U.S. Designates ISIS Financial Network Spanning Europe, Middle East, Africa

The United States targeted three individuals and six entities on June 22 for allegedly enabling ISIS to move money across international borders, according to a press statement from Thomas Pigott, a U.S. spokesperson.

The designations identify operatives working across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa. Among those targeted is a France-based facilitator accused of providing information about explosives to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based operator who used cryptocurrency to transfer funds for ISIS associates in multiple countries including the United States, and a Nigeria-based facilitator whose money exchange businesses allegedly served ISIS financing operations.

The action reflects what U.S. officials characterize as ISIS's shift toward decentralized operations and reliance on financial intermediaries to connect its global network. Designations under Executive Order 13224 block U.S. transactions with sanctioned individuals and entities and generally freeze their assets within U.S. jurisdiction.

The announcement coincides with the May 16 operation in Nigeria that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by U.S. officials as the number two official in ISIS. The U.S. designated ISIS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2004 under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control published additional details about the designations on its website. The U.S. State Department first designated the group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on October 15, 2004, when it was known as al-Qa'ida in Iraq.