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US Declares Muslim Brotherhood Groups in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan Terrorist Organisations

Published by admin on January 13th, 2026.

US Declares Muslim Brotherhood Groups in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan Terrorist Organisations

The United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood operating in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organisations, marking a significant shift in Washington’s approach toward groups it views as security threats in the Middle East.

According to a statement credited to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the move is part of a broader and sustained effort to curb what the U.S. describes as violence and destabilising activities linked to these organisations. The designation makes it illegal to offer financial or material support to the groups, restricts current and former members from entering the United States, and introduces economic sanctions aimed at cutting off their sources of funding.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by Islamic scholar Hassan al-Banna, has expanded over the decades through political, social, and religious networks across the region. While the group insists it is committed to peaceful political engagement, several of its branches remain influential. In Lebanon, its affiliate al-Jamaa al-Islamiya has seats in parliament, while in Jordan, its political arm, the Islamic Action Front, won 31 parliamentary seats in the 2024 elections despite the organisation being banned. In Egypt, the Brotherhood rose to power in 2012 before being removed from government a year later, leading to its prohibition and a continued crackdown that forced many of its members into exile.