The United States Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on two men based in Turkey alleged to be Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) financial facilitators.
Adam J. Szubin, acting treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement on Thursday that Mohamad Alsaied Alhmidan and Hussam Jamous provide financial support and services for ISIL and assist in the movement of foreign fighters involved with the group. The action blocks their property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with Alhmidan and Jamous
According to the US Treasury, 40-year-old Alhmidan, who is based in an unspecified part of Turkey and carries a Syrian passport, facilitated the movement of tens of thousands of dollars and foreign fighters and provided logistical support to ISIL. Jamous is based in Antakya, Hatay province, near the Syrian border, also has a Syrian passport and is about 33 years old, it said.
“Today’s action marks the latest step in Treasury’s efforts to cut off ISIL’s finances and underscores that ISIL financial facilitators are not beyond the reach of the international campaign to defeat ISIL,” the statement said.
Placing the two Turkey-based men on a sanctions list seeks to lock them out of the global financial system by prohibiting US companies and individuals from doing business with them.