9/11 Commission report subsequently cleared al-Barakat of involvement in financing the 9/11 hijackers, the 9/11 Commission determined that the 9/11 hijackers received their remote funds transfers through US financial institutions, not Islamic financial institutions. Funded by wealthy Saudis, al-Itihaad had extensive connections with the Somali expatriate community in Kenya, in particular the Eastleigh district of Nairobi and the predominantly Muslim coastal regions. At its height, the AIAI militia numbered over 1,000. According to U.S. intelligence officials, al-Itihaad cooperated with the al-Qaeda operatives who carried out the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam that killed 224 people. On 7–8 March 1999, Ethiopia claimed it had made a cross-border incursion into Balanbale searching for members of AIAI who had reportedly kidnapped a person and stolen medical supplies, and denied reports of looting. Allegations from that time also claim Ethiopia was the supplier of various Somali warlords, while Eritrea was arming other warlords. On 24 September 2001, AIAI's finances were sanctioned by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush under Executive Order 13224. Its then-head Hassan Dahir Aweys was also sanctioned under Executive Order 13224 in November of that year. In June 2004, Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki, who had become leader of the organisation, was also sanctioned for his connections to bin Laden. Al-Qaeda operatives were reported to have used the AIAI base on the island of Ras Kamboni, south of Kismayo near the border with Kenya. Other sources indicate that al-Qaeda formed a training camp on Kamboni, while al-Itihaad set up its own training camp at Las Quoay near the northeast port of Bosaso. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, these camps were dismantled and the hundreds of trained militants sailed for the safety of tribal areas in Yemen. Shortly thereafter it was claimed that al-Itihaad had dissolved as an organisation. Sheikh Aweys went on to become one of the leaders of the Courts of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Hassan al-Turki went on to lead Hizbul Shabaab before ceding the organisation to Aden Hashi Farah Ayro. Members The following individuals were considered to be members of AIAI: Sheikh Mohamed Haji Yusuf Al-Itihaad leader in Gedo region's 1992–1998 Hassan Dahir Aweys Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki Abu Talha al-Sudani Gouled Hassan Dourad Fahad Yasin - Later head of Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and political ally of President Farmaajo References 1994