The Obama administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on Hamza bin Laden, son of slain Al Qaeda Osama bin Laden. The United States believes that the son to the Sept. 11 mastermind poses a threat to national security.

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In a statement, the US State Department said that the younger bin Laden was added to its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list after he was "determined to have committed, or pose a serious risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or national security."

The sanctions will deny Hamza bin Laden access to the United States financial system. In addition, the sanctions can assist or complement the law enforcement actions of other United States security agencies or other governments.

Hamza bin Laden was officially named an Al Qaeda member in 2014 by his late father's successor, Ayman Al-Zawahiri. In 2016, he posted an audio message, in which he threatened revenge attacks against the United States. He also warned American citizens that they would be targeted both at home and abroad.

In a 2005 audio message by Al-Zawahiri, Hamza bin Laden called for acts of terror in western countries. He has also called for lone Wolf attacks against the United States, France, and Israel.

According to SITE intelligence group co-founder Rita Katz, Hamza bin Laden had been viewed by many as a future Al Qaeda leader but is yet to show the intellectual or operational acumen to replace Al-Zawahiri.

His father, Osama bin Laden, was killed in a 2011 raid by US Special Forces at his compound in Pakistan. His death came 10 years after he masterminded the deadly 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. His older brother Khlaed was also killed in the raid.

Hamza bin Laden was labeled a "crown prince" after surviving the raid that took his father's life, but he was not a key figure within the Al Qaeda command structure.

The United States also imposed sanctions against Ibrahim Al-Banna, a senior member of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Tagsosama bin laden, Barack Obama, United States, Al-qaeda