U.S. Treasury Sanctions Baghdad Airlines and CEO
The U.S. government placed the Iraqi airline Baghdad Airlines and its CEO on a sanctions list, claiming that they had supported the military operations of the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In addition, sanctions were also decided on Kataib Hizballah executives who are known to be behind the serial U.S. military strikes in the Middle East.
On the 12th (local time), the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that Baghdad Airlines and Bashi, which have supported the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s (IRGC) Quds Force and pro-Iranian militants in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon for years, will be designated as Abdulkadim Alwan Al Shah. They announced that they would sanction CEO Barney.
The U.S. government believes that Baghdad Airlines transported weapons cargo to Damascus International Airport to deliver it to the Quds Force or Iran-linked militia members in Syria.
It is said that the Syrian Arab Republic Guard, which has already been subject to sanctions by the United States, and Lebanese Hizballah, which has been designated as a Special International Terrorist (SGDT), received weapons such as grenades, machine guns, and missiles via Baghdad flights.
The United States also believes that Baghdad Airlines was involved in the process of transporting Iraqi militia members to support attacks on Israel by pro-Iranian militants following a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas.
The U.S. Treasury also placed three people, including Kataib Hizballah leader, on its sanctions list.
“Iran and its proxies have exploited the local economy and used seemingly lucrative businesses as hideouts to finance attacks,” said Brian Nelson, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Finance. “We will continue to interfere,” he said.
If a person is subject to Treasury sanctions, economic activities in the United States or all economic activities involving the United States are effectively blocked. If it is revealed that you have transacted with someone subject to sanctions, you may also be subject to sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury announced on this day that it would also impose sanctions on financial facilitators to block financial support to Hamas. This is the fifth sanctions targeting the Hamas funding network.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.