Designations of Muslim Brotherhood Chapters

Fact Sheet

January 13, 2026

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.

Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood (LMB)

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, LMB (also known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah) reactivated its al-Fajr Forces and launched rockets, in coordination with Hizballah and Hamas, from Lebanon into northern Israel.
In March 2024, the Israel Defense Forces launched an attack against al-Fajr Forces operatives who were preparing to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel.
In July 2025, the Lebanese Army dismantled a covert military training camp that included LMB and Hamas militants.
Under LMB secretary general Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh’s leadership, the group has pushed for a more formal alignment with the Hizballah-Hamas axis.

Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury announced the designation of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (EMB) and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood (JMB) as SDGTs for providing material support to Hamas, a U.S.-designated FTO and SDGT. In addition to today’s actions, the United States has previously designated other Muslim Brotherhood-related entities and offshoots that have engaged in terrorism and terrorist activities.

Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ)

Formed in the 1970s, EIJ was a violent offshoot of the EMB. The group’s primary goal was overthrowing the Egyptian Government and replacing it with an Islamic state.
EIJ specialized in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian government officials and was responsible for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981.
EIJ was led by Ayman al-Zawahiri before fully merging with al-Qa’ida in June 2001.
EIJ has been designated as an FTO since 1997 and an SDGT since 2001.

Gama’a al-Islamiyya (IG)

Similar to EIJ, IG was formed in the 1970s as a violent offshoot of the EMB with the goal of replacing the Egyptian government with an Islamic state. 
IG’s spiritual leader Omar Abd al-Rahman, known as the “blind Sheikh,” served a life sentence in a U.S. prison for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
IG has been designated as an SDGT since 2001.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Formed in 1979, PIJ emerged from the EMB as a terrorist group committed to the destruction of Israel.
PIJ has conducted numerous attacks on Israeli targets since the 1990s and participated in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
PIJ has been designated as an FTO since 1997 and an SDGT since 2001.

Hamas

In its 1988 founding charter, Hamas described itself as a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.
Hamas conducted the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people, including hundreds of Israeli civilians and at least 31 U.S. citizens, and resulted in more than 240 people being kidnapped, including U.S. citizens.
Hamas has been designated as an FTO since 1997 and an SDGT since 2001.

Harakat Sawa’d Misr (HASM)

Formed in 2015, HASM is a violent offshoot of the EMB with the goal of overthrowing the Egyptian government.
HASM has conducted numerous attacks, including the 2016 attempted assassination of Egypt’s former Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa and the 2017 assassination of Egyptian National Security Agency officer Ibrahim Azzazy.
In 2019, HASM was responsible for a powerful car-bomb that exploded outside of a hospital in Cairo, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens.
HASM has been designated as an FTO since 2021 and an SDGT since 2018.

Liwa al-Thawra

Formed in 2016, Liwa al-Thawra is a violent offshoot of the EMB.
Liwa al-Thawra was responsible for the October 2016 assassination of brigadier general Adel Ragai, commander of the Egyptian army’s Ninth Armored Division, outside his home in Cairo.
In 2017, Liwa al-Thawra bombed a police training center in the Egyptian city of Tanta.
Liwa al-Thawra has been designated as an SDGT since 2018.

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.     

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. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.      Persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with those designated today may expose themselves to sanctions risk. Notably, engaging in certain transactions with them entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to counterterrorism authorities.     

Today’s actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224.FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.

Petitioners requesting removal of those designated today from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List should refer to the Department of State’s Delisting Guidance page. 

Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe-All | Privacy Policy | Subscriber Help

External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

This email was sent to NP7epxb8a@niepodam.pl using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520