Overview
Sayf Abdulrah Salem al-Hayashi is a weapons dealer for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). He has also coordinated and financed AQAP operations and provided financial support to senior members of the group. Additionally, he has previously worked on behalf of ISIS’s affiliate 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. 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.
Hayashi was born in January 1978 and is a Yemeni citizen. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, he presently resides in the city of Azzan in Yemen’s Abyan Governorate.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx.
In 1994, Hayashi moved from Yemen’s al-Bayda Governorate to the city of Azzan in Abyan Governorate.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx; “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 remained in Azzan for the next ten years, where he worked as a weapons dealer.“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 2005, he and a business partner opened a money exchange office next to a store where they sold weapons. They also began dealing drugs and other illicit items and expanded their contraband business to other areas of Yemen, including the cities of Mukalla and Sanaa.“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 mid-2015, Hayashi facilitated a weapons deal for ISIS’s Yemeni affiliate, which was established in late 2014.“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.
As of 2016, Hayashi served as a weapons dealer for AQAP, coordinating and financing shipments of weapons for the group’s leaders. He also reportedly traveled across Yemen to meet with senior AQAP leaders and manage their finances. Hayashi also helped finance the group’s operations in the country himself.“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. Department of the Treasury named Hayashi a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for providing support or services to AQAP.“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 Hayashi on the same date. These countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.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.
In addition to his illicit business enterprises, Hayashi also owns the branches of the Al Khayr Supermarket in Yemen located in the cities of Azzan and Fuwwah. Due to its affiliation with Hayashi, the Al Khayr Supermarket was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity on October 25, 2017, by all of the same countries that designated Hayashi as a terrorist.“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.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Al-Qaeda affiliated group, Islamist, jihadist, Qutbist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
- Position(s):
- AQAP weapons dealer
AQAP is the union of al-Qaeda’s affiliated branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. AQAP has claimed responsibility for terror attacks and plots worldwide, including the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- religious, terrorist
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- jihadist, Qutbist, Salafist
- Position(s):
- financier
AQAP is the union of al-Qaeda’s affiliated branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. AQAP has claimed responsibility for terror attacks and plots worldwide, including the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
- Type(s) of Organization:
- religious, terrorist
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- jihadist, Qutbist, Salafist
- Position(s):
- facilitator
AQAP is the union of al-Qaeda’s affiliated branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. AQAP has claimed responsibility for terror attacks and plots worldwide, including the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
History
United States
- October 25, 2017
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx.
October 25, 2017The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Al Khayr Supermarket” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx.
Bahrain
- October 25, 2017
Bahrain added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
Kuwait
- October 25, 2017
Kuwait added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
Oman
- October 25, 2017
Oman added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
Saudi Arabia
- October 25, 2017
Saudi Arabia added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
Qatar
- October 25, 2017
Qatar added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
United Arab Emirates
- October 25, 2017
The United Arab Emirates added “Sayf Abdulrab Salem al-Hayashi” to its list of designated terrorist individuals and “Al Khayr Supermarket” to its list of designated terrorist entities.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.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
In Their Own Words:
We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].
Mar. 2023