- US hit Hamas with a fifth round of sanctions for abusing crypto
- Iran is launching regular attacks against US military bases in Iraq and Syria
The US government imposed sanctions on Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and its CEO, accusing them of helping Hamas and Iran's military. They also hit Hamas with a fifth round of sanctions for abusing crypto since the attack on Israel in October last year, AP reported.
Israel continues to wage war on the Gaza Strip. Approximately 25,000 Palestinians lost their lives, data of the Gaza Strip Health Ministry indicates. Iran is striking back, launching regular attacks against bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria.
Iran is using legit businesses for cover
The US Treasury Department justifies the sanctions, claiming the airline and its CEO Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani are helping Iran's military wing and its proxy groups in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. In a statement, the treasury said Iran and its proxies were abusing regional economies and using legitimate businesses to cover up funding of militant activity.
Iraq will take legal action
Under the sanctions, the airline is not allowed to do business with Americans. On its part, it denied the accusations and pledged to take legal action to cover all losses resulting from the sanctions.
In addition, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted several leaders and supporters of Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant organization, and a company that is moving and laundering funds for Hezbollah.
Attacks on the US
When the war between Israel and Hamas broke out, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of militias supported by Iran, attacked bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria. Officially, some of these groups and Hezbollah are controlled by the Iraqi military as part of the Popular Mobilization Forces. This coalition played a crucial role in the fight against ISIS when the latter went on a rampage across Syria and Iraq.
The US also sanctioned a network of financial exchanges linked to Hamas, including entities that used crypto to transfer funds from Iran to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza. The US coordinated with Australia and the UK on these sanctions.
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