The US on Thursday imposed the largest sanctions to date targeting Yemen’s Houthis in an effort to disrupt the group’s fundraising, smuggling and attack operations.
In a statement, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it is issuing sanctions against 32 individuals and entities as well as four vessels.
“Those targeted today finance and facilitate the Houthis’ acquisition of advanced military-grade materials, including ballistic missile, cruise missile, and unmanned aerial vehicle components, used to attack United States forces and our allies, as well as commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” the Treasury noted.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said: “The Houthis continue to threaten US personnel and assets in the Red Sea, attack our allies in the region, and undermine international maritime security in coordination with the Iranian regime.”
“We will continue applying maximum pressure against those who threaten the security of the United States and the region,” he added.
The Treasury statement said Houthis generate substantial revenue by importing oil and other commodities through ports under their control, overseeing complex smuggling operations, and laundering vast sums of money on behalf of senior Houthi leadership.
The proceeds from these illicit activities finance the group’s global weapons supply chain, which relies on procurement operatives, front companies, shipping facilitators, and various suppliers, the Treasury noted.
The Houthis have disrupted commerce since late 2023 by launching hundreds of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war in Gaza.
