New US Sanctions Against Facilitators of Arms Procurement for Houthis

The United States has sanctioned two individuals and four companies for facilitating the procurement of weapons for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US Treasury Department stated that Wednesday's sanctions target 'logistics personnel, transportation facilitators, and suppliers' based in Yemen and China who were procuring dual-use equipment for use in the Houthis' advanced weapon systems. Those sanctioned include 'Al-Mutahid Al-Shahri Company,' a firm based in Sana'a, Yemen, which is said to have relied on a branch office in Guangzhou, China, to facilitate transport to Yemen. The US Treasury also sanctioned a Yemeni businessman named Maher Yahya Muhammad Mutaher Al-Kanai, who is reported to have collaborated with other Houthi operatives to 'facilitate the transport of dual-use equipment and components.' Following the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea, forcing many shipping companies to change their routes and provoking retaliatory strikes from the US and its allies. The US Treasury statement noted that those sanctioned 'directly' supported the Yemeni rebels' efforts to procure 'military materials abroad,' which were then sent to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, enabling their ongoing attacks. According to AFP, Brian Nelson, the US Treasury's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the Houthis 'have been seeking to exploit key areas such as the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong to source and transport the necessary components for their deadly weapon systems.' He added that the Treasury will continue to target these 'facilitators' who enable Houthi activities.