U.S. and Turkey Take Joint Action to Disrupt ISIS Financing

The U.S. Treasury and its Turkish counterpart, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, took joint action yesterday to designate four individuals and two entities tied to the Islamic State (ISIS) for enabling “the terrorist group’s recruitment and financial transfers to and from Iraq and Syria.” Although a welcome development, Turkey continues to support and provide sanctuary for other terrorist entities, especially Hamas and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian offshoot of al-Qaeda.

Collaboration between U.S. and Turkish officials led to the designation and asset freezes (in Turkey) for yesterday’s sanctions targets, all of whom played key roles in managing financial flows to ISIS throughout the Middle East. The sanctioned individuals include Brukan Al-Khatuni and his two sons, who actively engaged in recruitment efforts and “materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS.”

Cracking down on ISIS is a major step in the right direction for Turkey, which has a proven record of aiding and abetting jihadists in Syria and long turned a blind eye to terror finance on Turkish soil. Throughout much of the Syrian civil war, Ankara did little to prevent jihadi groups — including ISIS — from using its territory, a policy consistent with the Turkish goal of regime change in Damascus. This included allowing foreign nationals to transit Turkey to join jihadist groups, along with the provision of weapons, logistical, and medical support, all of which led to Turkey being labeled a “jihadi highway.”

Despite this new collaboration between Washington and Ankara, Turkey still provides support for other terrorist organizations — in particular Hamas, which it refuses to acknowledge is a terrorist organization. In 2020, Turkey granted citizenship to Ismail Haniyeh, a key Hamas leader residing in Turkey, allowing him to acquire a Turkish passport and travel internationally with increased ease. Ankara also allows Hamas to maintain offices and an open dialogue with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In December 2022, Turkey also granted citizenship to Moaz Ismail Haniyeh, son of Ismail Haniyeh. Finally, Turkey continues to back Al-Qaeda affiliated entities in Syria, namely, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. Ankara provides weapons, salaries, and logistical support as a means to limit and undermine the influence of Syrian Kurdish groups, such as the U.S.-aligned People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers to be a terrorist organization because of its ties to the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).

The Biden administration should applaud Turkey’s decision to rein in ISIS financiers and explore further opportunities to jointly designate terror operatives as well as locate and seize their assets. To a degree consistent with protecting sensitive information, U.S. Treasury officials should share actionable information directly with their Turkish counterparts to facilitate further designations and seizures. Joint action in this realm may encourage Turkey to begin cutting ties with Hamas and HTS, although those relationships are long-standing. Washington should make clear its expectation that yesterday’s action marks the beginning of a new phase for Ankara, not an effort to placate the United States while continuing to work with terrorists.

Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to FDD’s Turkey Program and Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). For more analysis from Sinan, the Turkey Program, and CMPP, please subscribe HERE. Follow Sinan on Twitter @SinanCiddi. Follow FDD on Twitter @FDD and @FDD_CMPP. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.