Iraq Designates Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis as Terrorist Entities, Orders Asset Freeze

Peregraf - The Iraqi government has officially designated Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement as terrorist entities within Iraq, ordering a comprehensive freeze of all their funds and assets.

The decision was published in the Iraqi official gazette Waqai’ al-Iraq, issue No. 4848 dated November 17, 2025. The publication includes Decision No. 61, issued by the Committee for Freezing the Assets of Terrorist Groups on October 28, 2025, which mandates the freezing of the assets and financial holdings of 24 groups classified as terrorist organizations.

Among the listed entities:

• Entry 18: Hezbollah, Lebanon – Charged with participation in terrorist acts.

• Entry 19: Houthis (Ansarullah), Yemen – Charged with participation in terrorist acts.

The Committee for Freezing Terrorist Funds operates under the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. It is chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank, with the Director of the Directorate for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism serving as deputy.

The committee also includes high-level representatives—at the rank of Director General or Dean—from the Ministries of Finance, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Trade, Communications, Science and Technology, in addition to members from the Commission of Integrity, the Counter-Terrorism Service, and the Intelligence Service.

This marks one of Iraq’s most extensive financial counterterrorism measures in recent years, targeting groups with regional influence and longstanding ties to Iraqi armed factions.