Devendra Kumar
The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on four leaders of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, designating them as supporters of recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to the US Treasury, Mohamed al-Atifi, Muhammad Fadl Abd al-Nabi, Muhammad Ali al-Qadiri, and Muhammad Ahmad al-Talibi are accused of assisting or sponsoring acts of terrorism. The sanctions mean that these individuals and companies cannot access US property, bank accounts, or do business with Americans.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November, targeting vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, despite initially claiming to be targeting Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These attacks have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms. The US State Department has condemned the attacks, with Matthew Miller stating that the Houthis’ actions are “illegal and reckless” and that the US is “continuing to take action to hold the Houthis accountable”.
The US has launched multiple rounds of air strikes in an attempt to stop the attacks, and most recently, two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the US Defence and State departments came under attack by Houthi rebels. The US Navy intercepted some of the incoming fire. The UK has also launched air strikes, and Treasury under secretary Brian E Nelson stated that the joint action with the UK “demonstrates our collective action to leverage all authorities to stop these attacks”.
While the sanctions may not have a significant financial impact on the targeted individuals, they serve as a reminder to the Houthi movement that the US knows their identities and is tracking them. Abdel Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, has dismissed the sanctions, claiming that the US has been unable to stop their attacks on ships. However, the move is seen as a significant escalation in the conflict, and a sign of the US and UK’s willingness to take a stronger stance against the Houthi’s actions.