By Al-Fassel | 2024-06-20

The United States is increasing pressure on the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) in several regions by imposing sanctions on its operatives and offering rewards for information about the group's key leaders.

Following investigations made in close coordination with Türkiye, the US government on June 14 imposed sanctions on four people with links to ISIS, including an ISIS-linked smuggling network.

Türkiye took its own action against the network.

Uzbekistan-based Olimkhon Makhmudjon Ugli Ismailov and Uzbekistan national Muhammad Ibrohimjon Niyazov are involved in or support the ISIS-linked human smuggling network, per the US Treasury and US State Department.

Each facilitated travel on behalf of other individuals, while Niyazov separately provided administrative and logistics support for ISIS elements in Türkiye.

Another Uzbekistan national, Muhammadyusuf Alisher Ogli Mirzoev, was sanctioned for his involvement last year in work to establish an ISIS militant training camp.

ISIS "Georgia province emir" Adam Khamirzaev, aka Adam Islamovych Oliferchik, was sanctioned for providing "guidance to this smuggling network on activities in support of ISIS," the State Department said.

Khamirzaev was aware of the network's efforts to facilitate travelers to the United States, it added.

"ISIS has a history of using criminal means to support its global operations, and these designations target ISIS-linked individuals involved in a human smuggling organization," the State Department said.

Rewards for Justice

The US Justice Department is meanwhile offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the identification or location of Abu Ali al-Tunisi, the "leader of manufacturing for ISIS in Iraq."

Al-Tunisi has conducted training for ISIS elements, including instruction on how to make explosives, suicide vests and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to the US State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program.

Separately, RFJ is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of ISIS's financial mechanisms.

ISIS networks have conducted financial transfers to support ISIS efforts in Syrian displacement camps such as al-Hol by collecting funds in Indonesia and Türkiye, the program said.

Some of these funds "were used to pay for smuggling children out of the camps and delivering them to ISIS foreign fighters as potential recruits," it added.

"Illicit oil operations and trafficking in looted archaeological objects from Syria and Iraq also have been key sources of revenue that generate hard currency and enable ISIS to carry out its brutal tactics and oppress innocent civilians," it said.

Any information that could lead to ISIS leaders or financial supporters should be relayed to RFJ through its WhatsApp number +1-202-294-1037, or its Telegram channel.