The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday March 6, 2025 that, the United States has imposed sanctions on seven senior members of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
These individuals were said to have been involved in smuggling military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controled areas of Yemen and negotiating weapons purchases from Russia.
Additionally, Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri and his company, Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Company, were designated for recruiting Yemenis to fight in Ukraine on behalf of Russia and raising funds to support Houthi military operations.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized
the U.S. government’s commitment to holding the Houthis accountable for acquiring weapons from suppliers in Russia, China, and Iran, which threaten Red Sea security.
The State Department also implemented the designation of the Houthi movement as a “foreign terrorist organization,” a move initially called for by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The move, however, triggered concerns it could affect regional security and worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis because importers fear being hit with U.S. sanctions if supplies fall into Houthi hands.
