WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it designated three men as terrorists for allegedly targeting American nationals in overseas al-Qaida attacks.
The State Department designated brothers Yassin and Monir Chouka as terrorists for their role in 2010 and 2011 attacks on civilians in Afghanistan. They were classified as "fighters, recruiters, facilitators and propagandists for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan," a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Early last year, Washington said it had information that suggested terrorist groups were plotting against U.S. interests in Uzbekistan and called on citizens to exercise caution when traveling in the region.
The warning mentioned al-Qaida, IMU, the Islamic Jihad Union and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement as groups active in the region. The IMU was named by the State Department as the movement responsible for the October deaths of 18 people, including five Americans.
Mevlut Kar, accused of trying to set up an al-Qaida cell in Lebanon, was also designated by the State Department. He's wanted by Beirut and the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The State Department tied him to a 2007 bomb plot targeting U.S. military installations in Germany planned by the IJU, another FTO.
The designation freezes any assets the three men may have in areas under U.S. jurisdiction.
