The U.S. State Department decided to list the “Ansār al- Quds” group on the list of international terrorist organizations. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. move. A statement issued by the U.S. State Department spokesman explained that the attacks of this organization targeted security forces and tourists. 

The statement pointed to the responsibility of the group for the attempted assassination of the Egyptian Minister of Interior in September 2013. However, the statement did not refer to the close relationship between the Ansār al- Quds and the Muslim Brotherhood group. The statement also added that the group adopted some of the ideas of al-Qa’ida (Thomas Georgisian, al- Ahrām, April 10).