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US tightens financial restrictions on Houthi facilitator
Treasury, under Secretary Janet Yellen, reimposed sanctions targeting a facilitator of the Houthi rebels in Yemen. File photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI
July 18 (UPI) — The United States has imposed additional sanctions on a Yemeni facilitator of the Houthi rebels, as the Biden administration continues to tighten its financial control over the Iran-backed militia that has been attacking shipping vessels amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Houthis attacked over 50 commercial ships transiting the Red Sea since November 19, when their forces, emboldened by Israel’s war against Iran’s proxy militia Hamasbegan implementing a maritime commercial blockade in the region, claiming solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Announcement
Amid the blockade, the Biden administration has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Sa’id al-Jamal’s network to weaken the Houthi’s hold on the Red Sea, accusing the Iran-based financier of generating tens of millions of dollars for the rebels by shipping Iranian commodities including oil.
On Thursday, the Treasury sanctioned Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad, 55, and Zhuang Liang, 46, as well as three companies and several vessels for being complicit in al-Jamal’s illicit network.
“These actions are aimed at disrupting the network run by U.S.-designated facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal that is funding the Houthis and their destructive activities in the region,” the State Department spokesperson said. Matthew Miller said in a statement.
“Today’s targets are part of a multifaceted network of illicit operations, ranging from clients and facilitators to insurance providers, vessels and ship management companies. We will continue to use all available tools to disrupt financing flows that enable the Houthis to continue their destabilizing activity in the region.”
Bin Ahmad, a dual citizen of Malaysia and Singapore, was targeted for providing management and brokerage services to al-Jamal’s network, including arranging shipments to Malaysia and vessels to trade illicit Russian and Venezuelan goods, the Treasury said.
Zhuang has been blacklisted on charges of money laundering and running other financial schemes for al-Jamal’s network. The Chinese native is also accused of helping al-Jamal’s business partner, Houthi affiliate Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud, evade sanctions.
Al-Jamal was previously designated by the United States, along with other Western democracies, as was Mahamud.
Several vessels were also identified by Treasury for their involvement with al-Jamal, as were companies that were his clients and provided insurance for his ships.
Sanctions typically freeze all assets held by the designees, while also banning their access to the U.S. financial system and preventing U.S. citizens from doing business with them.