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Last Updated: 23 – Oct – 2020 10:03 am
US Department of Justice
The US Department of Justice announced Wednesday that US authorities seized the names of two domains linked to an Iranian-backed terrorist group operating in Iraq. He explained that these websites are “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezallah.com” (Al-Trend channel, Kataib Hezbollah) and were used by Kataib Hezbollah, a group that the US Treasury designated in 2009 as a terrorist organization.
These militias operating in Iraq and supported by Iran are accused of committing acts of violence against the Iraqi coalition and security forces.
The Justice Ministry stated that “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezallah.com” acted as a media arm for Kataib Hezbollah by posting content aimed at destabilizing Iraq and recruiting others to join its militias.
Established in 2009, Al-Ittijah operates as a live television broadcasting channel on the Internet. Under an arrest warrant, federal authorities seized “Aletejahtv.com” and “Aletejahtv.org” in late August. A few weeks later, federal agents stumbled upon the sites “Aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezallah.com”.
The content reportedly included false information about the coronavirus pandemic designed to damage the perception of the United States among Iraqi citizens and further destabilize the region in favor of Iran.
Prosecutors said “aletejahtv.com” and “kataibhezallah.com” are owned by a US company based in Reston, Virginia. East Virginia issued a confiscation order on October 14 and the domains were confiscated.
The Justice Ministry said that Kataib Hezbollah did not obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control before registering the domain names.
In accordance with federal law, entities such as KH obtain or use goods or services, including location and domain services, in the United States without a license from OFAC.
Assistant Attorney General for Homeland Security John C. Demers said such seizures are necessary to prevent terrorist organizations from using US websites to recruit members and promote their global views.
“While this case is a reminder that terrorists do not need to advance in our country to achieve their goals, today’s actions show that the ministry will do whatever it takes to stop them,” Demers said.
