Treasury Targets Iraq Based Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq, Freezing Their U.S. Assets
December 24, 2005 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - On December 22, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Iraq-based insurgent group Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi [JRTN] for threatening the peace and stabilization efforts in Iraq. JRTN has committed, directed, supported, or posed a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and is being designated today pursuant to Executive Order [E.O.] 13438, which targets insurgent and militia groups and their supporters. Today's designation freezes any assets that JRTN may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with the entity. The U.S. Government has no information indicating any tie between JRTN and the Naqshabandi Sufi order of Islam.
About the announcement, U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Affairs, Stuart Levy stated, "Today's designation is an important step in protecting Coalition troops, Iraqi Security Forces, and innocent Iraqis from insurgent groups like JRTN that use violence to undermine Iraq's progress toward a more democratic and prosperous future."
The designated terrorist group has attacked Coalition Forces in Iraq since April 2009, including the August RKG-3 [armor-penetrating grenade] attack against a Coalition Forces convoy in Hawijah, Iraq. Subsequently, a JRTN cell operating in Kirkuk, Iraq, fired rockets at the Kirkuk Regional Air Base in two separate attacks. As of mid-2009, JRTN planned to conduct attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and intended to overthrow the Government of Iraq and reinstate Ba'ath Party rule. In mid-July, JRTN members were responsible for an improvised explosive device [IED] attack on Coalition Forces near an Iraqi police station in Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq. Later that month, JRTN detonated an IED targeting Coalition Forces in Kirkuk.
In August of this year, JRTN also attacked Joint Security Station McHenry, also in Kirkuk.