The United States has slapped terrorist designations on three militias implicated in the 2012 attacks on U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya and Tunisia, the State Department announced Friday.
The State Department announcement named branches of Ansar al-Sharia in the eastern Libyan city of Darnah, in Benghazi and in Tunisia.
It also tagged leaders of each branch -- Ahmed Abu Khattalah, Sufian bin Qumu and Seifallah Ben Hassine -- as officially designated terrorists.
CNN's Elise Labott reported Thursday that the designation was imminent.
The move allows the United States to freeze assets, impose travel bans on members and affiliates of Ansar al-Sharia and make it illegal for U.S. residents to support the group.
According to the State Department, the Benghazi and Darnah branches were responsible for the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi that left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.
The Tunisian branch was behind the September 14, 2012, attack against the U.S. Embassy and American school in Tunis, the State Department said.
Both groups have been implicated in other violence, including assassinations and attacks on civilians and security forces, the State Department said.
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