Washington has decided to remove five groups classified under its list of foreign terrorist organizations, including some that have killed hundreds of people, according to reports from multiple media outlets.
On Friday, the U.S. State Department issued notices to lawmakers making it known that terrorist designations of five entities will be formally removed when the determinations are published in the Federal Register, which is expected to take place in the coming week. Copies of these notices were signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and obtained by media outlets.
The State Department said on Sunday that revoking the terrorist designation ensures America’s terrorism sanctions remain “current and credible,” according to The Associated Press. Blinken insisted that the designation is based on an administrative review of terrorist designations that is mandated by law to take place once every five years.
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