The United States Imposes New Sanctions on Iraq's Kata'ib Hezbollah and Hamas; Increasing Pressure on the Quds Force of the IRGC

On Monday, January 22, the United States imposed new sanctions against the Iraqi airline "Fly Baghdad," Kata'ib Hezbollah, and Hamas. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that it sanctioned the Iraqi airline "Fly Baghdad" and its CEO due to their "support for the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon." OFAC also sanctioned three leaders and supporters of Kata'ib Hezbollah as one of the main Iranian-affiliated militia groups in Iraq, as well as a company involved in money transfers and money laundering for Kata'ib Hezbollah. The Treasury Department's statement adds that today's action comes amid ongoing threats from the Quds Force and its proxy network against U.S. personnel and the region. According to this statement, Kata'ib Hezbollah has conducted drone and missile attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 against Israel. The statement further notes that this group and other Iranian-affiliated militia groups in Iraq have continuously issued statements in support of Hamas terrorism and declared their commitment to attacking U.S. personnel. Brian Nelson, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, "Iran and its proxies seek to exploit regional economies and use seemingly legitimate businesses as a cover to finance and facilitate their attacks." Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, also stated in a statement announcing these sanctions that the United States will continue to expose and take action against individuals and groups that support terrorist groups and their destabilizing activities in the region through exploiting local economies and engaging in illegal activities. In addition to "Fly Baghdad" and its CEO, Bashir Abdul-Kadhim Alwan Al-Shabani, a senior member of Kata'ib Hezbollah named Hussein Mounth Al-Aboudi has also been sanctioned. Iqad Mahsan Faraj Hamidawi, a financial supporter of Kata'ib Hezbollah, and his tourism company in Baghdad named "Al-Masal" are among the other individuals sanctioned by the United States on Monday. Joint sanctions by the U.S., the U.K., and Australia against Hamas. OFAC on Monday, January 22, imposed its fifth round of sanctions against Hamas since the terrorist attack by this group on Israel on October 7. According to OFAC's statement, financial exchange networks affiliated with Hamas in Gaza, their owners and partners, and especially their financial facilitators have been sanctioned due to their key role in transferring funds, including cryptocurrencies, from the Quds Force of the IRGC to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Simultaneously, the U.K. and Australia also sanctioned key officials and facilitators of Hamas. Brian Nelson, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in this regard, "Hamas seeks to utilize various financial transfer mechanisms, including exploiting cryptocurrencies... to finance its terrorist activities." Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, also emphasized Washington's commitment to continuing cooperation with its allies and partners to dismantle the financial infrastructure supporting Hamas. According to him, the U.S. will continue to target Hamas, its financial supporters, and its financial transfer mechanisms to finance its terrorist activities using all its tools. The Treasury Department's statement mentioned the sanctioning of two financial networks named "Shamlakh" and "Harzallah" and the exchange offices and some individuals active in them. The U.S. has set a reward of up to $10 million for financial information about Hamas. The U.S. sanctioned one individual and three entities facilitating the Islamic Republic's financial support to the Houthis. The U.S. sanctioned several individuals linked to the Quds Force and Palestinian militia groups. New sanctions by the U.S. and the U.K. against Hamas's financing network in several countries. The U.S. sanctioned two officials of the Islamic Republic. The U.S. sanctioned a financing network for the Houthis in Yemen. The U.S. sanctioned "large military financial facilitation networks" of the Islamic Republic. The U.S. sanctioned several members of the Islamic Republic's proxy group in Iraq.