US, UK to impose new sanctions on Houthi leaders

The US and UK imposed sanctions against four Houthi leaders who spearheaded attacks in the Red Sea, the US Department of Treasury announced in a statement on Thursday. 

These leaders were responsible for procuring Iranian weapons and executing attacks against vessels, according to the Department of Treasury. 

The four men "materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or good or services to or in support of an act of terrorism," according to the statement. 

International peace and security threat

"Today’s [Office of Foreign Assets Control] designation of Houthi forces officials, taken in advance of the effective date of the designation of Ansarallah, serves to further promote accountability for the group’s recent terrorist attacks," the statement said. 

According to the statement, the sanctions block any of the leader's property or interests that are in the US or in possession of a person in the US. 

The sanctions also prohibit non-US financial institutions or people from funding goods or services to the four designated entities. 

“The Houthis’ persistent terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews lawfully transitting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden threaten to disrupt international supply chains and the freedom of navigation, which is critical to global security, stability, and prosperity,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in the statement.

“Today’s joint action with the United Kingdom demonstrates our collective action to leverage all authorities to stop these attacks.”