The US Treasury Department on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, imposed new sanctions on two individuals and four companies, alleging they facilitated arms purchases for the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the US.

Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a press release monitored by "Barran Press" that the Houthis have sought to "exploit key jurisdictions such as the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong to obtain and transport components for lethal weapons systems."

He emphasized that the Treasury Department will continue to "target facilitators who enable the Houthis' destabilizing activities."

The statement explained that the action targets key actors based in the People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Yemen, who have directly supported the Houthis' efforts to purchase military materials from abroad and ship these items to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, enabling the group to carry out ongoing attacks.

According to the statement, the sanctions targeted:

• Maher Yahya Mohammed Matar Al-Kinani and his company (Y Tech)
• Ahmed Khaled Yahya Al-Shahary and his three companies (Al-Shahary United, Guangzhou Al-Shahary United, and Hong Kong Al-Shahary), with offices in Yemen and China. These entities facilitated numerous shipments from suppliers based in the People's Republic of China to the Houthis, including components used in the production of Houthi missiles and drones.

The statement indicated that "Al-Shahary United maintains close contact with Houthi agents based in the People's Republic of China and Yemen, who used the company to help facilitate some of their most important procurement efforts."

It added that Al-Kinani "coordinated with other agents for Houthi purchases to facilitate the shipment of dual-use equipment and components for potential use in the manufacture of Houthi weapons."

The statement further mentioned that "Al-Shahary United was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, the Houthi militia, or for having acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly."

The statement pointed out that since November 2023, the Houthi group has deployed a range of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, carrying out reckless attacks targeting commercial vessels, US interests, and those of its allies.

The US State Department designated the Houthi militia as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224, as amended, effective February 16, 2024.

Since the beginning of the year, the US Treasury has issued a series of separate decisions imposing sanctions on individuals and entities operating within a vast and complex network that it says is working to secure financial and logistical supplies for the Houthis, ensuring arms purchases and smuggling them to the group within Yemen.

These decisions come amidst continued attacks by the Houthi group since last November on commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, using missiles and drones, leading to increased maritime insurance costs and forcing many shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.

In December 2023, the United States, a key ally of Israel, formed a multinational coalition to protect maritime traffic from attacks by the group listed on terrorist lists, while US forces periodically carry out strikes against Houthi military targets.