US: A Chinese Company Provides Satellite Images to Iran-backed Houthis

The US State Department says a Chinese satellite technology company is directly supporting the 'terrorist attacks' of Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen against US interests. At the same time, the US government has sanctioned the International Bank of Yemen for financially supporting the Houthis and some senior officials of this group. Tommy Bruce, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated at a press conference on Thursday, April 17, that 'a Chinese company is providing satellite images to the Houthis, and we are aware of these reports.' Earlier, the Financial Times reported, citing US officials, that this satellite company, named 'Chang Guang Satellite Technology,' which has ties to the Chinese military, provides satellite images to Houthi rebels to target US warships and international vessels in the Red Sea. According to Ms. Bruce, 'China has always tried to present itself as a global peacemaker, but the reality is that Beijing and Chinese companies provide essential economic and technical support to regimes like Russia, North Korea, and Iran and their proxy forces.' The spokesperson described this action and Beijing's support for this company as 'unacceptable,' even after direct discussions with them on this issue, adding: 'We ask our partners to judge the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese companies not by their words but by their actions.' According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington responded to these remarks by stating that they are unaware of this issue and therefore have no comment. Chang Guang, established in 2014, is a Chinese company active in the commercial aerospace sector, focusing on the development, operation, and management of satellite research and remote sensing data processing. China is considered the main strategic rival of the United States, and this accusation arises amid a trade confrontation between the two economic and military superpowers, during which Donald Trump, the US President, has significantly increased tariffs on Chinese goods. In response to the latest US attacks on Houthi positions, the militia announced that US strikes on an oil port on Friday, April 29, left at least 58 dead and dozens injured. The extensive US attacks on Iran-backed Houthi positions in Yemen began on March 15 by order of Donald Trump. The casualties on Friday indicate that the attacks were among the deadliest in the recent month-long military operations against the Houthis. Today, the United States also added the International Bank of Yemen to its sanctions list 'for financially supporting the Houthis and some key officials.' According to Tommy Bruce, the US is committed to disrupting the financial networks and banking access of the Houthis, and the sanctioning of the International Bank of Yemen is part of the US government's comprehensive approach to eliminating the threat network posed by Iran. After returning to the White House, Donald Trump reinstated the Houthis on the list of US terrorist organizations, while Iranian officials refer to this militia as part of the 'resistance axis.' The Iran-backed Houthis have launched attacks on military and commercial vessels since the beginning of the Gaza war under the pretext of supporting the Palestinian people, disrupting the normal flow of commercial shipping from Asia to Europe. Although the Islamic Republic is known as a supporter of the Houthis ruling over large parts of Yemen, Iranian political and military officials claim that this group makes its decisions independently. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, in his speech on the first day of Farvardin, rejected the 'proxy' nature of Iranian-affiliated groups in the region, stating: 'These nations themselves have grievances, and it is not a matter of proxy.' Nevertheless, on April 1, Donald Trump warned the Houthis to stop their attacks on vessels, otherwise this group and the Iranian government as their main supporter would face 'real pain.'