The U.S Treasury Department on Wednesday added Nayf Salam Muhammad Ujaym al-Hababi, a senior al-Qaeda leader reportedly based in Afghanistan, to the US government’s list of specially designated global terrorists.
The order – Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) – targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
In a statement issued by the Treasury Department, it said they targeted al-Hababi for his activities and for his leadership role in the organization, for planning attacks against U.S and Coalition forces in Afghanistan, for assisting in plots against the West and for fundraising on al-Qaeda’s behalf.
As a result of Wednesday’s move any property or interest in property of al-Hababi within U.S jurisdiction is frozen. Additionally, transactions by U.S persons involving al-Hababi are generally prohibited.
Adam J. Szubin, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said in the treasury’s statement: “Al-Hababi has a long history of directing deadly attacks against U.S forces and our Coalition allies in Afghanistan, along with plotting al-Qaeda terrorist operations in the United States and around the world.”
“To both protect the American people and support our Afghan allies in their quest for peace and stability, Treasury will continue to aggressively target al-Qaeda leaders such as al-Hababi for their roles in planning and financing terrorism,” he added.
According to U.S documents, al-Hababi has operated in Afghanistan since at least 2009 and was serving as the al-Qaeda emir for the Eastern Zone of Afghanistan from 2015. He has reportedly led an al-Qaeda battalion in Afghanistan since at least mid-2010 and as of mid-2015 was responsible for finding a new sanctuary for al-Qaeda. For several years, al-Hababi has been in charge of al-Qaeda-sponsored training in northeast Afghanistan, providing training and funds to militants to conduct operations.
The statement reported that al-Hababi has been involved in raising funds and authorizing spending on behalf of al-Qaeda since 2010.
“As of 2015, al-Hababi directed the delivery of funds and weapons to Taliban associates in Afghanistan for use in future attacks. As of 2012, al-Hababi solicited funds from supporters in Gulf countries to support al-Qaeda’s external operations and also expected to receive funds from Gulf-based donors for activities in Afghanistan. Furthermore, as of 2010, al-Hababi directed the purchase of weapons, including rocket propelled grenades, to distribute to militants in Afghanistan,” read the statement.
On the issue of attack planning, the U.S states that between 2012 and 2015, al-Hababi planned and provided support for al-Qaeda attacks against U.S and Coalition forces in Afghanistan and helped plan al-Qaeda’s external operations.
“As of 2015, al-Hababi worked on attack plans for fighting in northeast Afghanistan. In early 2013, al-Hababi and his battalion intended to take control of Kunar Province, Afghanistan, and establish a base to launch external operations on behalf of al-Qaeda,” read the statement.
It went on to say that in revenge for the deaths of senior al-Qaeda leaders, al-Hababi planned to carry out attacks in the West, including in the United States and other Western countries.
“As of 2012, suicide bombers affiliated with al-Hababi were tasked to attack Afghan bases and Coalition convoys in Afghanistan. As of 2011, al-Hababi was a senior al-Qaeda member consulting on al-Qaeda operations worldwide. In 2010, al-Hababi participated in two attacks against Coalition Forces convoys, and he led operations in northeast Afghanistan that included attacks against U.S military bases in 2009.”http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/23728-washington-adds-al-qaeda-leader-in-afghanistan-to-terrorist-list
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