US names Al Qaeda-linked outfit as terrorist entity
January 6th, 2012 - 9:36 am ICT by IANSWashington, Jan 6 (IANS) The US government has designated the Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions (AQKB), which operates between Iraq and Iran, as a “specially designated global terrorist entity” that will be subject to US sanctions.
“As a result of the designation, any assets that AQKB holds under US jurisdiction are frozen and US persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the organisation. This action will help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to AQKB,” Xinhua quoted a state department statement as saying.
The action taken against the organisation demonstrated the US’ resolve in eliminating AQKB’s ability to execute violent attacks, the statement said.
Established in 2007 from the remnants of other terrorist organisations, the AQKB has sworn allegiance publicly to other terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda.
“Operating along the border between Iran and Iraq, AQKB believes the leaders of the Kurdistan regional government are traitors and has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks against Kurdish targets in Iraq,” the statement said.
The statement listed a series of attacks launched by AQKB, including a May 2007 attack in Erbil, Iraq, in which 19 people were killed when a vehicle loaded with explosives struck the Kurdish interior and security ministries.
In July 2007, AQKB killed seven border guards and one Patriotic Union of Kurdistan security force member in an ambush in Penjwan, Iraq. In September 2010, two police officers were injured in a foiled AQKB suicide bomb attack targeting security officers in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, the statement added.
- U.S. teacher shot dead by student in Iraq - Mar 03, 2012
- Interpol red corner notice against fugitive Iraqi vice president - May 08, 2012
- Twelve dead in two bomb blasts in northern Iraq - Apr 29, 2011
- Turkish jets bomb targets in northern Iraq - Jun 21, 2010
- Al Qaeda leaders killed in Yemen air strike - May 07, 2012
- Turkey launches military operations in northern Iraq - Oct 21, 2011
- Thousands of Iraqis protest against foreign intervention - Sep 17, 2011
- Flydubai launches flight to Iraq - Jul 17, 2010
- Iraqi-US forces arrest four suspected Al Qaeda men - Aug 28, 2010
- Iranian soldier captured in Afghanistan - Dec 24, 2010
- Hotel fire kills 40 in Iraq - Jul 16, 2010
- 17 dead in Turkey clash - Jul 01, 2010
- CIA spy arrested in Iran? - Dec 17, 2011
- Abu Abdullah Al Shafi'l, leader of Ansar al Islam arrested - May 04, 2010
- Smugglers in Iraq Blunt Sanctions Against Tehran - Jul 09, 2010
Tags: allegiance, ambush, battalions, border guards, erbil iraq, kurdish, kurdistan, kurdistan regional government, patriotic union of kurdistan, police officers, remnants, security force member, security officers, suicide bomb attack, sulaymaniyah iraq, terrorist groups, terrorist organisations, traitors, violent attacks, xinhua