U.S. Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations

The United States designated chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, imposing sanctions that target their alleged support for violence and destabilization in the Middle East. The move, initiated by an executive order from President Donald Trump last November, marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts against the longstanding Islamist group.

The State Department labeled the Lebanese branch a foreign terrorist organization, the strictest designation, which criminalizes providing material support to the group. Its leader, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, was also named a specially designated global terrorist. The Treasury Department classified the Egyptian and Jordanian chapters as specially designated global terrorists, citing their provision of support to Hamas, the Palestinian group that the U.S. has long viewed as a terrorist organization. Officials stated that these branches engage in or facilitate activities that threaten U.S. interests, regional stability and attacks against Israel and American partners.

"These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood...