Directly targeting the world's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden, the US on Wednesday slapped sanctions against his son-in-law Muhammad Abdallah Hasan Abu al-Khayr, who is now considered as the key leader of Al Qaeda's finance network.
Al-Khayr, who married Osama's daughter after serving as elusive terrorist's bodyguard for a number of years, has been named as Al Qaeda's chief financial officer after the slaying of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid in a US drone attack.
He also acts for Al Qaeda in a leadership role on the media committee and has on at least one occasion recruited a member for it. Slapping the sanctions, US under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Stuart Levey said, "Today's designation of al-Khayr by the US and the UN will help to ensure that Al Qaeda remains in severe financial straits."
Al-Khayr appears on a 2009 list of 85 persons wanted by the government of Saudi Arabia, in part because of his role as an Al Qaeda financial facilitator. He has transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars for a specific terrorist attack against US interests, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
His relationship with Al Qaeda began with military training the terrorist group provided him in the mid-1990s. He has also provided services to Osama bin Laden as a bodyguard.
"After the death in May of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who essentially served as Al Qaeda's chief financial officer, we will continue to work with our allies to target those like al-Khayr who could step into al-Yazid's shoes," said Levey.