June 21, 2021

Syrian businessman sanctioned by UN Security Council

On June 17, 2021, the United Nations Security Council issued sanctions against Mohammad Ali al Habbo, a Syrian businessman who heads the “al Kahaldi” currency exchange network, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.  Al Habbo was added to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List for his participation in the financing and planning of activities in support of ISIL, and restrictions against him include an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2368 (2017).

Al Habbo was previously designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in September 2019, meaning his property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction have been blocked since that time.  As a result of the UNSC designation, other Member States will not be obligated to impose a similar asset freeze.

United Nations Press Release | United Nations Security Council Press Release