Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood on US terror list

In a move that marks a definitive escalation in United States (US) counterterrorism policy, the administration of President Donald Trump officially designated 3 prominent Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations on 13 January 2026.

The announcement, coordinated between the State and Treasury Departments, targets the aforementioned group’s chapters in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. This decision represents the first concrete implementation of Executive Order (EO) 14362, which Trump signed on 24 November 2025 to disrupt the movement’s global operations.

A tiered strategy of sanctions

The US government has applied 2 distinct legal frameworks to isolate these groups, reflecting the perceived level of threat each chapter poses to national and regional security.

The Lebanese designation:

The State Department has labeled the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, widely known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiya (the Islamic Group), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO); pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This is the most severe designation available under US law. It not only freezes any assets the group may have within the US financial system but also makes it a criminal offense for any person or entity to provide “material support” to the group.

Additionally, the State Department designated the chapter’s Secretary General, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT); pursuant to EO 13224, as amended.

The Egyptian and Jordanian designations:

Simultaneously, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Egyptian and Jordanian branches (EMB and JMB respectively) of the Muslim Brotherhood as SDGT.

While slightly different in legal scope than an FTO label, this designation empowers the US to block all property and interests in property of these chapters that are under American jurisdiction and prohibits US citizens from engaging in transactions with them.

Allegations of militant ties and instability

The core justification for these actions is the administration’s claim that the Muslim Brotherhood serves as an inspiring, nurturer and financial conduit for more overt militant groups, specifically Hamas; which represent “direct threats to the safety and security of the American people and our allies,” according to Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John. K. Hurley.

Lebanon: US officials pointed to evidence that the military wing of the Lebanese chapter, the al-Fajr Forces, engaged in rocket attacks against Israel following the 7 October 2023 attacks (codenamed “Operation al-Aqsa Flood”).

Jordan: Despite being banned domestically in Jordan, the Treasury Department alleged that members in Jordan have been involved in manufacturing rockets, explosives and drones, while raising funds through illicit channels to support Hamas’s military wing.

Egypt: Despite also being banned domestically in Egypt since 2013, the US claims the Egyptian chapter has continued to coordinate with Hamas leaders to destabilize the region and target Israeli interests.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the move as an “ongoing, sustained effort to thwart violence and destabilization wherever it occurs.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed this sentiment, vowing to “deploy the full scope of authorities to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat terrorist networks.”

Regional reactions and diplomatic friction

The decision has immediate geopolitical consequences, drawing sharp lines between US allies in the Middle East.

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were quick to praise the move. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described it as a “significant step” that reflects the “extremist ideology” of the group. These nations have long lobbied Washington to take a harder line against the Brotherhood, which they view as a primary threat to their internal stability.

However, the designation creates a “diplomatic thorn” for other partners, such as Qatar and Türkiye. Both nations have historically provided refuge to Brotherhood members or maintained political ties with the movement. Analysts suggest this could complicate bilateral relations, particularly with Ankara, a NATO ally whose leadership has frequently defended the Brotherhood as an ideological, rather than a militant, organization. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s own ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which ascended to power in 2002, is considered to be part of the Muslim Brotherhood or in close connection to it.

Domestic implications in Lebanon

The US designation of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya as a FTO is likely to have indirect but meaningful domestic effects in Lebanon, despite having no immediate legal force under Lebanese law.

Politically, it may weaken the group’s legitimacy and deepen polarization, as rival factions exploit the designation while the group frames it as external interference. The designation would also raise questions regarding its members’ ability to conduct legal procedures or even run for parliamentary elections, given that Circular No. 1355 issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Justice on 2 October 2025, instructing notaries (when organizing powers of attorney and transactions) to verify that all parties are not listed on national or international sanctions lists. If such listings exist, notaries must refrain from organizing the transaction and notify both the Ministry of Justice and the Special Investigation Commission. Thus, Lebanon could also face added pressure from Washington and Western partners to distance the state from sanctioned entities.

From a security perspective, Lebanese authorities may increase monitoring of the group to avoid international scrutiny, especially amid heightened regional tensions. The most immediate impact will be financial, as Lebanese banks (highly sensitive to US sanctions) are likely to over-comply by restricting accounts and transactions linked to the group or affiliated charities. Socially, if mishandled, the move risks aggravating sectarian sensitivities within Sunni communities already strained by economic collapse.

A new era of enforcement

In conclusion, by singling out specific national chapters, the Trump administration has moved away from the “strategic ambiguity” of previous years. The goal is no longer just to monitor the Muslim Brotherhood but to systematically starve its most active branches of resources. As the Treasury Department prepares to impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that continue to deal with these groups, the global reach of the Muslim Brotherhood faces its most significant legal challenge to date.