The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on several leaders of the Houthi group in Yemen, who are alleged to be behind attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a release that “the continuous terrorist attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships and their civilian crews, legally navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, pose a threat to international supply chains and freedom of navigation, critical for global security, stability, and prosperity.”
Among those sanctioned is Mohammed Al-Atifi, the so-called “Minister of Defense” for the Houthi group, along with leaders of the Houthi “naval forces.”
Subsequently, the UK announced it had also imposed sanctions on these leaders, in a coordinated move with the United States, citing the sanctions were due to “impairing the Houthis’ ability to carry out attacks on international shipping vessels.”
The Iran-backed Houthis claim their attacks in the Red Sea are “retaliation against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.”
