Conflicts

U.S. Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as Terrorist Organizations

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Jan 14, 2026

THE BARE STORY

The Trump administration has designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. On January 13, 2026, the U.S. State and Treasury Departments announced sanctions targeting the group's chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Officials stated the coordinated action is intended to financially cripple the organizations and thwart alleged violence and destabilization campaigns.

Under the new measures, the State Department designated the Lebanese branch, identified as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Treasury Department concurrently labeled the Lebanese, Egyptian, and Jordanian chapters as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). These classifications freeze the groups' assets within U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibit Western financial institutions and individuals from providing them with material support.

U.S. officials provided specific allegations to justify the sanctions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the move as the beginning of a sustained effort to counter the group's activities. The administration alleged that the Lebanese chapter’s military wing participated in rocket attacks against Israel following the October 7, 2023, conflict. Furthermore, the Treasury Department accused the Jordanian and Egyptian branches of conspiring to support Hamas. Specifically, officials claimed the Jordanian branch assisted in manufacturing weapons, including rockets and drones, while the Egyptian branch allegedly coordinated with Hamas on potential operations and discussed destabilizing the Egyptian government.

This federal action follows a November executive order issued by President Donald Trump calling for the evaluation of such designations. While the administration had contemplated labeling the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization during the President's first term, the current strategy targets specific regional branches rather than the global organization as a whole. Similar designations have previously been enacted at the state level by Florida and Texas.

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Perspective by Claude

• Alleged military engagement against Israel The administration cites direct violence as a primary driver for the sanctions, specifically accusing the Lebanese branch, al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, of participating in rocket attacks against Israel. Officials noted that these military activities occurred following the conflict that began on October 7, 2023.

• Accusations of conspiring with Hamas Treasury Department officials justified the designations by claiming the Jordanian and Egyptian branches have conspired to support Hamas. The Egyptian branch specifically faces allegations of coordinating with Hamas on potential operations in the region.

• Claims of weapon manufacturing and destabilization The U.S. government alleges that the Jordanian branch assisted in manufacturing weapons, including rockets and drones. Furthermore, officials accused the Egyptian branch of discussing plans to destabilize the Egyptian government, necessitating the coordinated effort to thwart such campaigns.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• You and Western financial institutions are legally prohibited from providing material support to these specific branches, creating liability for any financial interactions with the designated groups.

• Any assets these groups possess within U.S. jurisdiction are immediately frozen, aiming to financially cripple their ability to fund alleged rocket attacks and weapons manufacturing.

• This policy targets only the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese chapters, distinguishing them from the global organization while aligning federal action with existing Florida and Texas designations.

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