On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new round of sanctions targeting six Houthi leaders and five money exchange and shipping companies involved in the illicit arms trade, money laundering, and the illegal shipment of Iranian oil to the Houthi group.

According to a statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the individuals named include key smuggling operatives, arms dealers, and financial facilitators who have enabled the Houthis to acquire dual-use components and weapons, generating revenue to support their destabilizing activities in the region.

Among those sanctioned is Saeed al-Jamal, a Houthi financial official linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC-QF), who is reported to operate under several aliases, including “Khrpi,” “Ahmad Sa'idi,” and “Hisham.” He is accused of managing cryptocurrency wallets tied to the Houthi financial network.

Also targeted was Hashim Ismail Ali Ahmed al-Madani, the Houthi governor of the Central Bank branch in Sana'a, who plays a crucial role in overseeing funds sent to the group from the Iranian IRGC and is implicated in facilitating commercial activities for the Houthis.

Another significant figure is Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed Hassan al-Hadi, identified as a senior financial officer within the Houthi group, responsible for coordinating and facilitating the movement of funds and directing other financial operatives to manage Houthi finances.

The sanctions also extend to "Al-Thawr Exchange," a money exchange company reportedly involved in laundering millions of dollars on behalf of the al-Jamal network, and Khaled al-Hazmi, whose firm "Al-Hazmi Exchange" aided in funneling funds to circumvent U.S. sanctions.

The Treasury highlighted the roles of Houthi leaders based in Yemen and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including Wail Mohammed Said Abdul-Wadud and Omar Ahmed Omar Ahmed al-Hajj, who have facilitated arms smuggling operations.

Additionally, several shipping companies were named, including "Safwan Dubai Shipping and Trading," which has been used by Houthi procurement officials to import dual-use materials into Yemen while maintaining a presence in China to obscure weapon shipments.

The sanctions also impacted Malaysian shipping firms like "Blue Shipping" and "Tefcas Marine," which provided essential services to vessels transporting goods for the Houthis, including the sanctioned ship "Reneez," known for transporting Iranian goods.

Since the beginning of the year, the U.S. has imposed a series of sanctions on individuals, companies, and vessels linked to the Houthi leader Saeed al-Jamal, whom they accuse of managing and coordinating Iranian funding for the Houthis, including oil and gas revenue that supports their military operations and arms buildup.