US Sanctions Four Individuals for Ties to Al-Nusra Front Terror Group

The United States has sanctioned four individuals, including one Syrian, for links to the terrorist group formerly known as al-Nusra Front, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control said in a statement Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Added to the office’s specially designated nationals list were Jordanian-born Ashraf Ahmad Fari al-Allak, Abdallah Muhammad Bin-Sulayman al-Muhaysini of Saudi Arabia, Macedonian national Abdul Jashari and a Syrian, Jamal Husayn Zayniyah.

The Department of State added that the four men are key leaders of the group.

As of late 2015, Zayniyah was al-Nusra Front’s “emir” in Syria and Lebanon, responsible for planning operations, including the abduction of Christian nuns. Additionally, Zayniyah acted as an intermediary for hostage negotiations, the Treasury Department said.

Additionally, the OFAC added several al-Nusra Front aliases, including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, to its sanctions list.

In July, al-Nusra Front leader Abu Muhammed al-Jawlani changed the group’s name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and adopted a new logo and flag.

The State Department said the group remains an al-Qaeda affiliate despite the name change.