Treasury Department sanctions against those involved in supplying weapons to the Houthis

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

1 2 minutes read

The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Monday, directed against individuals and entities involved in the Houthis' arms purchasing network, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said during a press conference at the White House.

“We will continue to target this network to degrade the Houthis' ability to replenish their munitions, and we will continue to target threats to international trade when necessary,” Kirby said, as on Sunday evening when US forces struck a drone which posed a problem. direct threats against ships in the area.

Although Kirby said Houthi attacks no longer make headlines like they used to, they still have an impact, and the Biden administration wants to impact the group's capabilities.

“Their actions are truly reckless and beyond the pale. They talk a really good game, but their actions speak much louder,” Kirby said. “They don't care at all about the Palestinians in Gaza. This is not a principled position they are taking, this is terrorism – as I said. Pure and simple. And it has to stop. »

Targeting ships not affiliated with the Gaza war

Over the past few days, Kirby added, Houthi forces attacked a Greek-owned and operated Liberian-flagged bulk cargo merchant ship, killing a Filipino crew member and injuring a Sri Lankan crew member. -Lankans on board a ship operated by Poles. ship.

Israeli Navy missile ships head toward the Red Sea after several Houthi drone aerial intrusions, November 1, 2023 (Credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

“This also has nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” Kirby said. “They were not supplying weapons to Israel, they were not taking sides in the Middle East. They were simply holding their position aboard a ship, trying to earn a paycheck and advance world trade.

According to a statement from the US State Department, the sanctions imposed on Monday targeted three individuals and six entities that facilitated the purchase of weapons for the Houthis, as well as a vessel owned by one of those entities as property. blocked.

“Houthi attacks on unarmed commercial vessels continue to impede navigation on a vital waterway,” the department warned. “The United States is committed to using the tools at our disposal to obstruct the flow of military-grade material into Yemen that enables the Houthis to carry out these terrorist attacks. »