The State Department announced that the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to combat al-Qa’ida affiliates in Syria, notably those that exploit under governed spaces and conflict zones.
According to a release on April 11, Hurras al-Din (HaD) is one of these affiliates. This group is responsible for violence against religious minorities. The State Department has designated Sami Mahmud Mohammed al Uraydi, leader of HaD, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
“Today, @StateDept designated Hurras al-Din leader Sami al-Uraydi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Terrorist designations expose the malign activity of and isolate al-Qa’ida affiliates who exploit under-governed spaces and conflict zones in Syria,” tweeted Secretary of State Blinken.
The Department’s Rewards for Justice program has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information that identifies al-Uraydi or tells his location. Any property or interest in property of his that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now blocked. All U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with him, the release stated. Any foreign people that engage in certain transactions with al-Uraydi may also be exposed to sanctions risk, which includes under secondary sanctions authorities.
According to counterextremism.com, Hurras al-Din is a jihadist group affiliated with al-Qa’ida and based in Syria. It emerged in 2018 following the merger of other smaller militant groups that included the Khorasan Group. This was the al-Qa’ida affiliate in Syria at the time. The group is active in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, where it controls a large portion of the territory. HaD has been responsible for many attacks against civilians and military targets alike in Syria, which include actions like suicide bombings. The group is accused of targeting religious minorities as well, according to the State Department release.
