Three Members of Libyan Islamic Fighting Group Named
Categories: Al-Qa'ida,Libyan Islamic Fighting Group,Afghanistan,Africa,Canada,Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb,101 Most Dangerous,Britain,Saudi Arabia
The U.S. government designated three members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) a.k.a. Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and the financial, technological, or material support networks of terrorists.
"LIFG, along with other al-Qa'ida affiliates, seeks to exploit our globalized world, raising funds in Europe for transfer to terror cells operating in North Africa," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "To combat such transnational threats, the power and reach of the U.N.'s counterterrorism authorities are needed more than ever to shut down financiers of bloodshed wherever they may be."
LIFG officially announced its formation in 1995 among Libyans who had fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan and the Qadhafi regime in Libya. The LIFG is believed to have participated in the planning of the May 2003 Casablanca suicide bombings, and LIFG has been linked to the 2004 Madrid attacks.
Since the late 1990s, many LIFG members have fled Libya for various countries, particularly the United Kingdom. In early November 2007, Ayman al-Zawahiri announced the LIFG had become an official affiliate of al-Qa'ida. The LIFG was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in the annex to E.O. 13224 on September 23, 2001 and was added to the UN 1267 Committee Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with al Qaida or the Taliban on October 6, 2001.
These three individuals were also recently added to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, al-Qa'ida and the Taliban. All UN member states are obligated to freeze the funds and other assets of listed individuals and entities included on the List and to apply other sanctions, including a travel ban and an arms embargo. The United States implements this asset freeze through E.O. 13224.
Identifying InformationMAFTAH MOHAMED ELMABRUK
AKAs: Muftah Al Mabrook; Mustah ElMabruk; Maftah El Mobruk; Muftah El Mabruk; Elmobruk Maftah; Al-Mabruk Muftah Muhammad Al-Fathali; Al-Mabruk Al-Fathali; Al-Hajj 'Abd Al-Haqq; Al Hajj Abd Al Haqq; Al Haj Abd Al Hak; Haj 'Abd Al-Haq
DOB: 01 May 1950
POB: Libya
Nationality: Libyan
Background: As of January 2007, Elmabruk was a U.K.-based LIFG member and active in LIFG financial matters in the U.K. Elmabruk has been involved in fundraising activities on behalf of the LIFG for several years. Elmabruk attended various training camps in Afghanistan in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
ABDELRAZAG ELSHARIF ELOSTA
AKAs: Abdelrazag Elsharif Al Usta; 'Abd al-Razzaq Sharif; 'Abd Al-Razzaq Al-Sharif Al-Usta; Abu Mu'awiya; 'Abd Al-Mulay
DOB: 20 June 1963
POB: Soguma, Libya
Nationality: British
Background: As of January 2007, Elosta was a U.K.-based LIFG member and LIFG leadership figure. In January 2005, Elosta maintained funds for the LIFG in the U.K, for various LIFG-related purposes.
ABDULBASIT ABDULRAHIM
AKAs: Abdul Basit Fadil Abdul Rahim; Abdelbasit Abdelrahim; Abdullah Mansour; Abdallah Mansour; Abdulbasit Fadil Adbulrahim Mahoud; 'Abdallah Mansur; Abdel Bassit Fadil Al Zawy; 'Abd Al-Basit Fadil Al-Zway; 'Abd Al-Basit Fadhil Al-Zawi; Abu Basir; Abou Bassir
DOB: 02 July 1968
POB: Gdabia, Libya; Ajdabiyah, Libya
Nationality: British
Background: As of January 2007, Abdulrahim was a U.K.-based LIFG member. In January 2005, Abdulrahim was one of the most important LIFG members working on LIFG finances in the U.K., where the greatest amount of funding for the LIFG originated.
Abdulrahim joined the LIFG in 1993 while living in Saudi Arabia and was responsible there for the LIFG Islamic Jurisprudence Committee. During this time, Abdulrahim received material assistance for the LIFG from Saudi supporters, and tasked individuals to obtain material assistance for the LIFG.
PREVIOUSLY NAMED INDIVIDUALS:
NUR AL-DIN AL-DIBISKI
AKAs: Salem Nor Eldin Amohamed al-Dabski;
Salim Nur al-Din al-Dabski; Salim Nur al-Din al-Dabaski; Abdallah Rajab; Abdullah Ragab; Abu al-Ward; `Abd al-Ward; Abu al-Wurud; Abu Naim
DOB: circa 1963
POB: Tripoli, Libya
PASSPORT: 1990/345751 (Libya)
Background: Nur al-Din al Dibiski traveled to Afghanistan in the early 1990s, where he joined al Qaida and received military training in al Qaida's camps. Dibiski is believed to be a senior member of the LIFG and a member of that terrorist group's military committee. Dibiski also joined the LIFG while he was in Afghanistan, and as of August 2005 was identified as a member of the LIFG in Iran.
SA'ID YUSIF ALI ABU AZIZAH
AKAs: Said Youssef Ali Abu Aziza; Sa'id Yusif Ali Abu Azizat; Sa'id Yusif Abu Aziz; Sa'ud Abu Aziz; Abu Therab; Abu Thurab; Abu Turab; Abdul Hamid; Abd al-Hamid
DOB: 1958
POB: Tripoli, Libya
PASSPORT: 87/437555 (Libya)
Background: Sa'id Yusif Ali Abu Azizah is a member of and recruiter for al Qaida, and was responsible for al Qaida's publications and mass media operations. Azizah, who underwent terrorist training in an al Qaida training camp, supervised one of bin Laden's guesthouses in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Azizah joined the LIFG in 1995. Azizah has long been involved in recruiting new LIFG members and sending them to Afghanistan for military training and combat experience. On behalf of LIFG, Azizah has focused on the return of recruits to Libya to conduct operations against the government.
Azizah was identified as a member of al-Qa’ida in Canada in 2003, and became the leader of the LIFG in Canada in 2004.
'ALI SULAYMAN MAS'UD 'ABD AL-SAYYID
AKA: Aly Soliman Massoud Abdul Sayed; Mohamed Osman; Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; Ibn al-Qayyim; Ibn El Qaim; Al-Zawl
DOB: 1969
POB: Tripoli, Libya
PASSPORT: 96/184442 (Libya)
Background: `Abd al-Sayyid is one of al-Qa’ida's early members and is reportedly a member of the al-Qa’ida military committee. He was assigned by al-Qa’ida's leadership to deliver messages to AQ members in Libya that contained instructions for terrorist plots in Libya. `Abd al-Sayyid was also tasked by LIFG to enter Libya secretly, and was involved in arming an al-Qa’ida group in Libya.
`Abd al-Sayyid was at one time in charge of al-Qa’ida activities in Yemen, where he tasked one al-Qa’ida operative to obtain electrical "igniters" for explosives. In 1993, `Abd al-Sayyid coordinated with a LIFG member to bring an explosives expert to Yemen to make an improvised explosive device to be catapulted on the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa.
`Abd al-Sayyid later returned to Sudan, where he was in charge of al-Qa’ida operations and was a regional LIFG leader. He followed orders of the LIFG leadership, particularly LIFG leader and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) Abd al-Rahman al-Faqih. `Abd al-Sayyid also received funds from a Switzerland-based LIFG member.
In 2003, `Abd al-Sayyid received explosives detonators from a LIFG security committee member in Sudan and was involved in planning an attack on the Sudanese president and vice president.
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