The U.S. Sanctions Individuals and Entities for Supporting Arms Supply to Houthis

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against two individuals and four entities for facilitating the supply of weapons to Houthi militants in Yemen. According to a statement released by the U.S. Treasury on Wednesday, August 1, the sanctioned individuals and entities, located in Yemen and China - including Hong Kong - have supported the Houthis' efforts to acquire military items used in attacks against U.S. military forces, commercial vessels, and civilians in Israel since October 2023. In the statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the department will continue to target facilitators enabling the destabilizing activities of the Houthis. The purpose of these sanctions, which block the assets of the sanctioned individuals and entities and prohibit Americans from trading with them, is to 'reduce the Houthis' ability to carry out further attacks' and 'enhance global security.' Among the sanctioned entities is Al-Shahri United and its branches in China and Hong Kong, which have played a role in transporting components for the production of missiles and drones for the Houthis. Additionally, Ahmed Khalid Yahya Al-Shahri, the manager of Guangzhou Al-Shahri, has been sanctioned for his involvement in these activities. Furthermore, Maher Yahya Al-Kinai, a Yemeni businessman, and his company, 'Yemen Communication Assets Company for Information Technology,' have been sanctioned for their involvement in smuggling and supplying weapons to the Houthis. The U.S. Treasury also announced sanctions on Tuesday against five individuals and seven entities in Iran, China, and Hong Kong related to support for the missile and drone activities of the Islamic Republic. According to a statement released by the U.S. Treasury on Tuesday, August 1, the sanctioned individuals were involved in supplying components for the missile and drone programs of the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. The U.S. Treasury reported sanctions against several individuals and entities, as well as a ship that was involved in supporting the Houthis with weapons and financial assistance. OFAC announced on Monday, June 18, 2024, that it had sanctioned two individuals and five entities involved in facilitating the purchase of weapons for Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned six entities, one individual, and two oil tankers related to the Houthis on April 7, 2024, describing it as 'another step to disrupt the financial operations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its support for proxy terrorist groups like the Houthis.' The Biden administration, following multiple Houthi attacks on various vessels, re-listed them as 'global terrorists' in February 2024. The U.S. imposed new sanctions against the Islamic Republic in response to 'new nuclear actions' and 'threats to change nuclear doctrine.' The U.S. sanctioned the money laundering network of the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian Ministry of Defense. The U.S. sanctioned several individuals and companies for 'aiding the Houthis, Hezbollah, and the Revolutionary Guard.' New EU sanctions against nine individuals and entities; the commander of the Quds Force and the Minister of Defense were sanctioned. The U.S. sanctioned four entities and one individual involved in the drone program of the Islamic Republic. The EU will sanction nine individuals and entities affiliated with the Islamic Republic.