US blacklists top Hamas, Hezbollah operatives
- 9 years ago
The US Department of State has designated Yahya Sinwar, Samir Kuntar, Rawhi Mushtaha, and Mohammed Deif as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, it was revealed Tuesday.
The timing of the announcement - during the week that Congress is expected to vote on the nuclear deal with Iran - may be intended to emphasize for all parties in the Middle East that Barack Obama's administration will intensify its activities to prevent the spread of Iranian-sponsored terrorism and the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas.
By adding Kuntar to the United States' international terrorist list as a person who helps terrorists and who is himself a terrorist, the administration states that Kuntar is a US target and it is illegal to help him in any way.
Regarding Kuntar, who was released from an Israeli prison in 2008, the State Department sad, that following his return to Lebanon, he joined Hezbollah and "has since emerged as one of the group's most visible and popular spokesmen.
The timing of the announcement - during the week that Congress is expected to vote on the nuclear deal with Iran - may be intended to emphasize for all parties in the Middle East that Barack Obama's administration will intensify its activities to prevent the spread of Iranian-sponsored terrorism and the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas.
By adding Kuntar to the United States' international terrorist list as a person who helps terrorists and who is himself a terrorist, the administration states that Kuntar is a US target and it is illegal to help him in any way.
Regarding Kuntar, who was released from an Israeli prison in 2008, the State Department sad, that following his return to Lebanon, he joined Hezbollah and "has since emerged as one of the group's most visible and popular spokesmen.