Washington: An operative of a Lebanese-based militant group and an Islamic militant group responsible for an attack on an Algerian gas facility that killed nearly 40 people, including three Americans, are being added to the State Department`s list of terrorists.
The designations announced today ban anyone from providing support or resources to the operative, Usamah Amin al-Shibabi, or the militant group called al-Mulathamun Battalion. The designations also freeze property and assets that the designees have in the United States.
The militant group, which threatens to fight against Western interests, became a separate organization in late 2012 after its leader split with al-Qaida.
Al-Shihabi is an associate of Fatah al-Islam, a Lebanese group that has called for the destruction of Israel.
