US designates Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist group

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The U.S. Department of State has designated the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood (LMB) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), citing its involvement in militant activities linked to Hamas and Hizballah.

The designation was announced on Tuesday in a fact sheet released by the Office of the Spokesperson, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s approach to Muslim Brotherhood-linked groups operating across the Middle East.

“Today, the Department of State announces the designations of the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and its secretary general, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, as an SDGT,” the statement said.

According to the State Department, the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, also known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, reactivated its armed wing, the al-Fajr Forces, following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.

“Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, LMB reactivated its al-Fajr Forces and launched rockets, in coordination with Hizballah and Hamas, from Lebanon into northern Israel,” the Department said.

It further noted that in March 2024, the Israel Defense Forces targeted al-Fajr operatives “who were preparing to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel,” while in July 2025, the Lebanese Army dismantled “a covert military training camp that included LMB and Hamas militants.”

The State Department said the group’s leadership had moved closer to regional militant alliances.

“Under LMB secretary general Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh’s leadership, the group has pushed for a more formal alignment with the Hizballah-Hamas axis,” it said.

In a parallel action, the US Department of the Treasury designated the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood as SDGTs “for providing material support to Hamas, a U.S.-designated FTO and SDGT.”

The fact sheet also outlined the historical links between the Muslim Brotherhood and several militant organisations, including Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Gama’a al-Islamiyya, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, all of which are already designated terrorist entities by the United States.

“Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources they need to carry out attacks,” the Department said.

It added that “all property and interests in property of those designated today that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked,” while warning that “U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.”

The designations were made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224 and will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.