Overview

Radwan Muhammad Husayn Ali Qanan is a deputy field commander and senior leader of ISIS in Yemen. Prior, he was a leader of operations responsible for assassinations and plots to kidnap foreigners. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, he has been considered “one of the most dangerous members” of ISIS in Yemen since 2015.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.  He was designated as a terrorist by the United States and six Gulf countries in October 2017.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Qanan, who holds Yemeni citizenship, was either born in 1975 or 1982.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx; “Saudi Arabia adds 11 Qaeda, ISIS-linked Yemenis on terror list,” Al Arabiya English, October 25, 2017, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/10/25/Saudi-State-Security-lists-two-entities-and-eleven-names-supporting-al-Qaeda-ISIS.html. He joined ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen sometime after the group was established in November 2014. He served as the military emir of ISIS in Yemen during the beginning of the Saudi-led military campaign in the country in March 2015. Also that year, Qanan led a campaign to target and kidnap foreigners and by October, was considered to be “one of the most dangerous members” of ISIS in Yemen, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As of late 2015, he was one of the most senior officials of the group operating out of Aden, Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

In early 2016, Qanan directed assassination operations for ISIS in Yemen. He also served as a commander and received funding from “multiple sources” in support of his leadership roles, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. By mid-2017, he was considered a key leader of ISIS in Aden Governorate. Additionally, he served as deputy field commander as well as a regional field commander for the group in southern Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

On October 25, 2017, the U.S. Treasury Department named Qanan a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for acting for or on behalf of ISIS in Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. Several Gulf countries also belonging to the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a coalition of nations established in May 2017, also agreed to impose similar sanctions against Qanan on the same date. These countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Gregory D. Johnsen, “Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State Benefit as Yemen War Drags On,” Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, January 19, 2016, https://ctc.usma.edu/posts/al-qaida-and-the-islamic-state-benefit-as-yemen-war-drags-on; “Treasury Sanctions Major Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Leaders, Financial Figures, Facilitators, and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 29, 2015, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0188.aspx.