The US and UK Sanction Four Senior Military Officials of the Houthi Group

The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department has sanctioned four senior officials of the Houthi militia (officially known as Ansar Allah) due to their support for terrorist activities and targeting commercial vessels. At the same time, the UK has also imposed sanctions on these senior Houthi officials. Brian Nelson, the US Deputy Treasury Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the ongoing terrorist attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships and their civilian crews, which legally pass through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, threaten the international supply chain and the freedom of navigation that is vital for global security, stability, and prosperity. Mr. Nelson added that the sanctions against these four Houthi officials, coinciding with those from the UK, demonstrate a 'collective action' to utilize all capabilities to stop these attacks. The Houthi group is supported by the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, emphasized on the 'X' platform that the United States and its allies are committed to protecting international trade. According to the US Treasury website, the sanctioned individuals are Mohammed al-Atifi, Mohammed Fadl Abdul Nabi, Mohammed Ali al-Qadiri, and Mohammed Ahmed al-Talibi. Mohammed al-Atifi, identified as the 'Defense Minister' of the Houthis, has stated that the group will turn the Red Sea into a 'graveyard' in response to any actions taken by the US-led 'Operation Guardian of Prosperity' coalition. Mohammed Fadl Abdul Nabi, the 'Commander' of the Houthi naval forces, has also stated that the group will continue its attacks against ships passing through the Red Sea. Mohammed Ali al-Qadiri, the 'Coastal Defense Commander' of the Houthis, whose forces carry out attacks on ships in the Red Sea, has threatened to attack the international maritime route in the Red Sea using advanced weapons. Mohammed Ahmed al-Talibi, the 'Logistics Director' of the Houthi forces, assists in the smuggling of weapons supplied by the Islamic Republic, missiles, drones, and components needed to build equipment to Yemen. He coordinates the importation of arms shipments through smuggling networks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Despite repeated warnings from the United States and multiple airstrikes against their positions by the US and UK in the past two weeks, the Houthis have not ceased their attacks on commercial ships. Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, stated in a televised speech that these attacks will continue until 'food and medicine' reach the citizens of Gaza and 'Israeli crimes cease.' The Houthis have warned American and British citizens to leave Yemen within 30 days. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Houthis are being equipped with advanced Iranian weapons. The US and UK have once again attacked 'Houthi targets' in Yemen. The US stated that the Houthis' claim of a 'successful attack' on an American ship is 'clearly false.' A senior US military official stated that the Islamic Republic has a 'direct role' in the Houthi attacks on ships.