04 July 2009

BEIRUT: The US government has labeled the Iraq-based Kataeb Hizbullah a "foreign terrorist organization" and levied financial sanctions against the outfit, saying it poses a risk to Iraqi security and has received support and training from the Lebanese Hizbullah movement. The US departments of State and Treasury both blacklisted the group Thursday, according to a Treasury statement, along with Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis, said to be an adviser to Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Qods Force.

The US listed the Qods Force as a "specially registered global terrorist" in October 2007.

"Al-Muhandis and Kataeb Hizbullah have committed, directed, supported, or posed a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and as a result are designated today under Executive Order (E.O.) 13438, which targets insurgent and militia groups and their supporters," the Treasury said.

The US State Department designated Kataeb Hizbullah as a "terrorist" group under the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, signed by former US President George W. Bush in September 2001.

The Treasury statement accused Kataeb Hizbullah of receiving arms training in Iran and pledging to attack the Iraqi government if it continued to cooperate with US forces. In addition, the statement charged that, beginning in 2007, the group has launched rocket-propelled grenade and mortar attacks against US forces, adding that confiscated hard drives showed hundreds of videos of the group documenting its attacks.

The Treasury also claimed Kataeb Hizbullah had received support from Hizbullah, noting the Lebanese movement's television affiliate Al-Manar had aired footage of Kataeb Hizbullah attacks in Iraq.

"As of 2008, Kataeb Hizbullah was funded by the IRGC-Qods Force and received weapons training and support from Lebanon-based Hizbullah," the statement said.

"In one instance, Hizbullah provided training - to include building and planting IEDs and training in coordinating small and medium arms attacks, sniper attacks, mortar attacks, and rocket attacks - to Kataeb Hizbullah members in Iran."

HIzbullah spokesman Ibrahim Mousawi denied the link, saying the movement doesn't have relations with the several groups that bear its name.

"We have no branches outside of Lebanon," he said.

The US has listed Hizbullah as a terrorist organization for over a decade, and the designation has been extended to several of the group's press and construction affiliates, like Al-Manar and Jihad al-Binaa.

As for Muhandis, Treasury said the Iraqi born, Iran-based operator had formed a Shiite militia in Iraq in early 2007 and provided logistical support for attacks against US and Iraqi security forces. In addition, the statement said Muhandis has played a role in the bombings of Western embassies in Kuwait in the 1980s and a failed assassination bid on the emir of Kuwait.

The statement provided 19 possible aliases for Muhandis, and under the Treasury's designation all of his US assets are frozen and any transactions with US citizens are prohibited.

"These designations play a critical role in our efforts to protect Coalition troops, Iraqi security forces, and civilians from those who use violence against innocents to intimidate and to undermine a free and prosperous Iraq," said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

 

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