The United States has designated the Muslim Brotherhood's branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, citing ties to Hamas. The Lebanese branch receives the more severe Foreign Terrorist Organization label, while the Egyptian and Jordanian ones are classified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The United States announced on Tuesday the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood's branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, according to a statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move links the groups to supporting Hamas against Israel since the onset of the war on Gaza in October 2023. The Lebanese branch is classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), with its secretary general, Mohammed Fawzy Taqqosh, named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), based on the reactivation of Fajr forces after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, missile launches toward northern Israel in cooperation with Hezbollah, and the Lebanese military's dismantling of a covert training camp in July 2025 involving the group and Hamas militants.
The Egyptian and Jordanian branches are designated as SDGTs for providing material support to Hamas, including alleged coordination for potential terrorist activities against Israeli interests in the Middle East in 2025, sending personnel to fight in Gaza in 2024, and fundraising in Saudi Arabia for Hamas. This classification draws from an executive order by President George W. Bush in 2001 following the September 11 attacks, which facilitates asset freezes, prohibits financial transactions, and targets supporters without the stricter FTO criteria.
The decision follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump nearly two months ago, directing officials—including the secretaries of state and treasury, attorney general, and national intelligence director—to submit a joint report within 30 days and finalize measures within 45 days. Cairo welcomed the move, with the Foreign Ministry praising the Trump administration's efforts against international terrorism and noting its alignment with Egypt's stance on the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group. The organization responded that the step is "divorced from reality and uncorroborated by any evidence," vowing to pursue legal challenges and selecting a US law firm for appeals. A source close to the group indicated limited practical impact due to its institutional collapse, internal divisions, and recent leadership changes involving lesser-known figures.
Egypt had previously designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in December 2013, after the military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in June 2013 and the dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in, which government figures say killed 607 protesters and eight security personnel, though other reports cite higher civilian deaths.
