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US Imposes Sanctions on Yemen Bank, Citing Support to Houthis

Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
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US Imposes Sanctions on Yemen Bank, Citing Support to Houthis

Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Signage is seen at the United States Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, US, August 29, 2020. (Reuters)

The United States unveiled sanctions Thursday on a Yemen bank, including its key leaders, citing its support for Houthi militants in that country.

The designation of the International Bank of Yemen (IBY) complements a government effort "to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea," said the US Treasury Department.

The Houthis launched an armed coup in 2014, seizing control of the capital Sanaa and other several provinces.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted shipping lanes using missiles and drones in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where a brutal war has raged since October that year.

"Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender in a statement.

The official said the US government was "committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen."

Thursday's action follows a designation in January of the Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment.

In a separate statement, the US State Department added that Washington was "committed to disrupting Houthi financial networks and banking access."

Besides the IBY, key leaders targeted in Thursday's actions are Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Abdulkader Ali Bazara, the Treasury Department said.

As a result of sanctions, property and interests in property of designated individuals in the United States are blocked and must be reported.

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Libyan Protesters Demand Prime Minister Quit as Three Ministers Resign

Demonstrators demand the overthrow of the Libya's Government of National Unity headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, Libya. May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ayman al-Sahili
Demonstrators demand the overthrow of the Libya's Government of National Unity headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, Libya. May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ayman al-Sahili
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Libyan Protesters Demand Prime Minister Quit as Three Ministers Resign

Demonstrators demand the overthrow of the Libya's Government of National Unity headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, Libya. May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ayman al-Sahili
Demonstrators demand the overthrow of the Libya's Government of National Unity headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, Libya. May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ayman al-Sahili

Hundreds of Libyan protesters called on Friday for the ouster of the internationally-recognized prime minister and his government said one security force member was killed when some protesters tried to storm his office.

At least three ministers resigned in sympathy with the protesters, who want Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah to quit.

The demonstrators gathered in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, chanting slogans such as "The nation wants to topple the government” and “We want elections.”

They later marched to the main government building in the city center. "We won't leave until he leaves," one protester said.

The demonstrators carried pictures of Dbeibah, national security adviser Ibrahim Dbeibah and Interior Minister Emad Tarbulsi with their faces crossed out in red.

State-oil firm NOC said in a statement that its operations at oil facilities are proceeding as normal, with oil and gas exports operating regularly. National oil output in the past 24 hours was at 1,376,415 barrels.

Dbeibah, who leads the divided country's Government of National Unity, came to power through a UN-backed process in 2021. Planned elections failed to proceed that year because of disagreements among rival factions, and he has remained in power.

The government media platform said in a statement that one security member of its building protection force was killed, posting video footage showing the building's fence destroyed with rocks on the ground.

"Security forces thwarted an attempted storming of the Prime Minister's Office by a group embedded among the demonstrators," it said in the statement.

On Friday, businessman Wael Abdulhafed said: "We are (here) today to express our anger against Dbeibah and all those in the power for years now and (who) prevent elections. They must leave power."

Calls for Dbeibah to resign increased after two rival armed groups clashed in the capital this week in the heaviest fighting in years. Eight civilians were killed, according to the United Nations.

Violence flared after the prime minister on Tuesday ordered the armed groups to be dismantled. Demonstrators have accused Dbeibah of failing to restore stability and of being complicit in the growing power of armed groups.

Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed al-Hawij, Local Government Minister Badr Eddin al-Tumi and Minister of Housing Abu Bakr al-Ghawi resigned on Friday.

Militia leader Abdulghani Kikli, widely known as Ghaniwa, died in the clashes, which calmed on Wednesday after the government announced a ceasefire.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya expressed its concern over the escalation of violence in Tripoli, calling on parties to take the appropriate measures to protect civilians and public property.