Israeli Defense Ministry Gantz designated four alleged Islamic State fighters as foreign terrorists

Defense Minister Benny Gantz has designated four alleged Islamic State senior members as foreign terrorist operatives, his office said on Monday.

This is the first time that the Defense Ministry has designated foreign terror operatives at the request of the United States, Gantz’s office said.

It also said the decision was made in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, which calls on member states to assist in the effort against global terrorism.

The four individuals — Farhad Hoomer, Siraaj Miller, Abdella Hussein Abadigga and Peter Charles Mbaga — are accused of setting up IS cells across the continent of Africa, raising funds and planning attacks.

The four were designated by the United States Treasury as terrorists in March.

“Israel and the United States see the need to fight terrorist organizations, anywhere and anytime,” Gantz said in a statement.

“We will continue to work to curb the capabilities of terrorist organizations and their operatives, and we will continue to strengthen our cooperation with partners around the world in the face of those who seek to undermine stability and harm [innocents].”

Israel has moved to crack down on Islamic State after six Israelis were killed in a pair of terror attacks in Beersheba and Hadera by Arab Israeli supporters of the jihadist group in March.

Source: TOI