Counter Terrorism Designations Removals and Update

Delistings:

The following deletions have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT] Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY (a.k.a. FLY BAGHDAD (Arabic: فلاي بغداد); a.k.a. IRAQ EXPRESS), Hurriya Square, Building 66, Street 25, Sector 925, Babil Neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq; Jamia Street, Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 2014; Organization Type: Passenger air transport (Linked To: ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE).

IRAQ EXPRESS (a.k.a. FLY BAGHDAD (Arabic: فلاي بغداد); a.k.a. FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY), Hurriya Square, Building 66, Street 25, Sector 925, Babil Neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq; Jamia Street, Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 2014; Organization Type: Passenger air transport (Linked To: ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE).

FLY BAGHDAD (Arabic: فلاي بغداد) (a.k.a. FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY; a.k.a. IRAQ EXPRESS), Hurriya Square, Building 66, Street 25, Sector 925, Babil Neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq; Jamia Street, Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 2014; Organization Type: Passenger air transport (Linked To: ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE).

YI-BAF; Aircraft Manufacture Date 24 May 2002; Aircraft Model B 737; Aircraft Operator Fly Baghdad; Aircraft Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 32412; Aircraft Tail Number YI-BAF; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (aircraft) (Linked To: FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY).

YI-BAN; Aircraft Manufacture Date 08 Jan 2008; Aircraft Model B 737; Aircraft Operator Fly Baghdad; Aircraft Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 35064; Aircraft Tail Number YI-BAN; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (aircraft) (Linked To: FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY).

Amendments:

The following changes have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT] Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

AL-SHABBANI, Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan

• AKA:
  • AL-SHABANI, Bashir Abd al Kazim Alwan
  • ALSHABBANI, Basheer
  • SHABBAN, Basheer
• Baghdad, Iraq
• DOB 01 May 1986
• nationality Iraq
• Gender Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport A14930891 (Iraq) expires 27 Jan 2027
• alt. Passport A9836915 (Iraq) expires 19 Aug 2024
• National ID No. AA2889593 (Iraq) expires 21 Oct 2026
• Party Type: Individual
• Linked to: ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE

Supplemental Information: Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan Al-Shabbani is Fly Baghdad’s chief executive officer and owner. OFAC designated him alongside the airline in January 2024, alleging that Fly Baghdad moved fighters, weapons, and money into Syria and Lebanon for Kata’ib Hizballah and other IRGC-QF-aligned groups. This same update deletes FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY and its two aircraft from the SDN List, while Al-Shabbani’s own designation was not removed. It is a reasonable inference, though not stated by OFAC, that his Linked To field was redirected from the now-delisted airline to the IRGC-QF directly because the entity he had been tied to no longer appears on the list. OFAC’s delisting notice does not explain the removal, and contemporaneous press coverage has tied the timing to ongoing US-Iran talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz – a connection drawn by reporters, not confirmed by OFAC.

List of Changes:

• Field Name: Linked To
  • Changed: FLY BAGHDAD AIRLINES COMPANY to: ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE

Sources

• Treasury Targets Kata’ib Hizballah Leaders and Airline Enabling IRGC-QF and Militant Proxy Groups, U.S. Department of the Treasury (Jan. 22, 2024)
• OFAC sanctions Fly Baghdad, CEO for aiding Iran, ch-aviation
• US lifts sanctions on Iraqi airline linked to Iran’s IRGC: What to know, Al-Monitor (Aug. 5, 2026)