United States Department of the Treasury Imposes Sanctions on Alleged Houthi Weapons Providers
The Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on numerous individuals and entities suspected of providing weapons components and assistance to the Houthis.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury made an announcement on Monday about new sanctions targeting two individuals and five business entities believed to be aiding the Houthis in Yemen by facilitating weapons components and assistance while the group continues to carry out drone and missile attacks on commercial ships.
These sanctions are part of the United States’ efforts to prevent the disruption of international shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding areas due to the actions of the Houthis.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaidi Shiite Islamic group in Yemen that has been designated as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) group by the Biden administration. The group has been engaged in conflict with the Yemeni government and has recently become involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The Houthis have targeted merchant ships believed to be associated with Israeli interests and allies.
OFAC has sanctioned Ali Abd-al-Wahhab Muhammad al-Wazir, his company Guangzhou Tasneem Trading Company Limited, and the Hong Kong-based parent company Tasneem Trading Company Limited for procuring materials to enable the Houthis to manufacture advanced conventional weapons in Yemen.
In addition, OFAC has designated two Chinese entities, Ningbo Beilun Saige Machine Co., Ltd. and Dongguan Yuze Machining Tools Company Limited, for sanctions. These companies have allegedly supplied materials for manufacturing weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that the Houthis have used in attacks on vessels.
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The sanctions also extend to Stellar Wave Marine L.L.C., based in the United Arab Emirates. OFAC revealed that the merchant ship M/V Otaria, owned by Stellar Wave, transported unspecified commodities to Singapore on behalf of Sa’id al-Jamal, a suspected Houthi financier previously sanctioned by the U.S. The captain of Otaria, Vyacheslav Salyga, has also been sanctioned by OFAC for his involvement in the transport of the cargo.
The sanctions allow U.S. authorities to seize assets belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities that are within the U.S. or in the possession of U.S. persons. Individuals and financial institutions providing support to these sanctioned entities face the risk of being subjected to sanctions.
Red Sea Standoff Continues
The recent actions by the Treasury Department come amidst ongoing incidents in the Red Sea region.
The Houthis carried out an attack on the M/V Tutor, causing severe damage using an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat on June 12.
A day later, the Houthis targeted the M/V Verbena, resulting in damage to the vessel.
At a White House press briefing on June 17, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby condemned the attacks which resulted in the death of a crewmember on the Tutor and critical injuries to another crew member on the Verbena.
Kirby dismissed the Houthi claims of supporting the Palestinian cause, stating that the crewmembers of the ships were not involved in any conflict but were performing their duties to support global commerce.
Kirby highlighted previous attacks by the Houthis on non-combatant vessels, including those carrying humanitarian aid to Sudan and Yemen, emphasizing the broader impact of the Houthi actions on the region.
The U.S. government has shifted its stance on the classification of the Houthis as a terrorist group in recent years.
Since 2015, the U.S. has provided military support to a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen against the Houthis. While the Trump administration designated the Houthis as a global terrorist group, the Biden administration rescinded this designation shortly after taking office.
The U.S. military and its allies have intercepted Houthi attacks and conducted strikes in response to Houthi aggression in Yemen.
