LOC18:39
15:39 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 21 (KUNA) -- The US Department of State has amended late Thursday the designation of Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) to change the group's primary name to Khalid bin Al-Walid Army and to add new aliases.
The Department of State said in a statement that the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, formed in 2012, "has staged attacks throughout Southern Syria, including several attacks targeting UN personnel."
The group, which has pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS), was designated by the Department of State as a SDGT entity in June 2016.
It indicated, "Near the time of the US designation, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade changed its name to Khalid bin Al-Walid Army after merging with groups operating in Southern Syria.
"These actions notify the US public and the international community that the terrorist organization Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade now operates under, and is known by, the name Khalid bin Al-Walid Army," it stressed.
It noted, "US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with the Khalid bin Al-Walid Army, and all property and interests in property of the organization subject to US jurisdiction are blocked". (end)
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