The US State Department praised the efforts of Saudi Arabia in countering terrorism in the region, cautioning that ISIS continues to direct, enable, and encourage individuals to conduct terrorist aggression around the world.
The State Department stated that Saudi authorities operated closely with the US to implement counterterrorism responsibilities and to develop new capabilities to “monitor and oppose extremist messaging.” It indicated that the Kingdom concentrated on identifying paths to terrorist radicalization and recruitment to enable a more comprehensive, collaborative, and aggressive strategy for countering violent extremism.
The report pointed out that Saudi Arabia is the foremost country in the Middle East that supports the US and international sanctions levied on terrorist financing networks, with a priority on entities that support Iran and its proxies. It showed that the Iranian regime, along with its proxies, continue to plot terrorist attacks on the world, stating that Tehran, ISIS and al-Qaeda suffered major setbacks in 2019.
“As part of the maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian regime – the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism – the United States and our partners imposed new sanctions on Tehran and its proxies.” In Africa and Southeast Asia, ISIS affiliates carried out attacks and inspired others to do so as well, according to the statement.
It also stated that threats posed by racially or ethnically inspired terrorism, particularly white supremacist terrorism, remained a severe challenge for the global community. It pointed out that this trend started in 2015 and continued with numerous deadly racially inspired attacks around the world in 2019, including in New Zealand, Germany, and the US. The State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Nathan Sales, stated that removing Sudan or any other country from the list of “state sponsors of terrorism” requires the performance of many measures and procedures that ensure terrorism will not be supported in the future.
Sales told a news forum that the US sanctions are against the former government in Sudan led by dictator Omar al-Bashir, adding that the current government ought to move forward with more stable and democratic processes that maintain human rights. In answer to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat about some nations violating international laws and financing terrorist groups, Sales stated that the US wants to assure that financing for terrorists is halted.
He demonstrated that the Iranian regime sponsored terrorist militias around the world rather than delivering a better life for its citizens. Sales announced that the US will continue to designate terrorist entities and individuals, adding that this action yields positive results in managing the money designated to support terrorists.
The official called upon the Taliban to respect its contract with Washington, noting that the organization vowed to cut all ties with terrorist groups, which will be observed by the US.
He also managed terrorism in Central Africa and al-Sahel, stating that this region is important, pointing out that France wants to equip these countries to confront terrorism with Washington’s help.
