The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced measures against seven senior members of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis. These individuals are accused of smuggling military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and negotiating arms procurements from Russia. OFAC is also targeting a Houthi-affiliated operative and his company for recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
"By seeking weapons from a growing array of international suppliers, Houthi leaders have shown their intent to continue their reckless and destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region," stated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "The United States will use all available tools to disrupt the Houthis’ terrorist activities and degrade their ability to threaten U.S. personnel, our regional partners, and global maritime trade."
This action follows previous measures taken under Executive Order 13224 against Houthi operatives and suppliers. The U.S. Department of State had earlier designated Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group under E.O. 13224, effective February 16, 2024, due to its involvement in acts of terrorism.
Key figures among the designated individuals include Mohammad Abdulsalam, who manages internal and external financing networks for the Houthis; Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah Almarwani, an aide involved in high-level delegations; Mahdi Mohammed Hussein Al-Mashat, Chairman of the Supreme Political Council; Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi, a member involved in securing safe passage for Russian vessels; Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih Al-Hadi, head of Sanaa Chamber of Commerce; Abdulmalek Abdullah Mohammed E Alagri; and Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber.
Additionally, Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri is named for operating a human smuggling operation that recruited Yemenis to fight in Ukraine via his company Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co.
As a result of these designations, all property within U.S. jurisdiction linked to these individuals is blocked. U.S. sanctions prohibit transactions involving these entities unless authorized by OFAC.
Violations may lead to civil or criminal penalties on both domestic and foreign persons. Secondary sanctions could also be imposed on foreign financial institutions engaging with these entities.
The ultimate goal of OFAC sanctions is not punitive but aims at encouraging positive behavioral changes.
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