WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of State has designated Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani a "specially designated global terrorist."
The designation, authorized under Executive Order 13224, targets terrorists and supporters of terrorists or acts of terrorism. The State Department described the terrorist acts committed by al-Adnani in its Monday announcement.
"Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, born Taha Sobhi Falaha in Syria, is the official spokesman for and a senior leader of ISIL. Al-Adnani is ISIL's main conduit for the dissemination of official messages, including ISIL's declaration of the creation of an Islamic Caliphate. Al-Adnani was one of the first foreign fighters to oppose Coalition forces in Iraq before becoming ISIL's spokesman."
The designation bars U.S. persons from doing business with al-Adnani, and any property he holds within the U.S. will be frozen.
Al-Adnani has also been added by the United Nations to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2170, an al-Qa'eda Sanctions list that requires all U.N. member states to freeze any assets associated with al-Adnani and impose a travel ban and arms embargo against the IS spokesman.
