Washington, DC - The Department of State has designated Ali Ouni Harzi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. The consequences of this designation include a prohibition against U.S. persons engaging in transactions with Ali Ouni Harzi and the freezing of all property and interests of Ali Ouni Harzi that are in the United States, or enter the United States or the possession or control of U.S. persons.

Ali Ouni Harzi was also added to the UN 1267/1989 al-Qaida Sanctions List, requiring all member states to implement an assets freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against Ali Ouni Harzi.

Syrian-based Tunisian national Ali Ouni Harzi joined Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia (AAS-T) in 2011 and was a high-profile member known for recruiting volunteers, facilitating the travel of AAS-T fighters to Syria, and for smuggling weapons and explosives into Tunisia. AAS-T was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under E.O. 13224, by the U.S. Department of State on January 13, 2014, and was added to the UN 1267/1989 al-Qaida Sanctions List on September 23, 2014.