US Cracks Down on Yemen’s Houthis with New Sanctions Amid Rising Tensions with Israel

As the Yemeni organization continues to trade assaults with Israel during the battle in Gaza, the United States has put further sanctions on the Houthis.

Hashem al-Madani, the governor of the central bank in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, along with a number of other Houthi officials and affiliated businesses, were subject to sanctions imposed by the US Department of the Treasury on Thursday for allegedly aiding the group in obtaining “dual-use and weapons components.”

Al-Madani was referred to by the US Treasury as the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “primary overseer of funds sent to the Houthis.”

Two rival central banks operate in Yemen: one in Aden, which serves regions of the country ruled by the internationally recognized government and various anti-Houthi factions, and another in Sanaa, the capital under Houthi control, which serves regions of the country under rebel control.

Bradley Smith, a Treasury official, stated that the restrictions are intended to thwart Houthi attempts to “secure additional revenue.”

According to a statement from Smith, “The United States will continue to expose these schemes and will hold accountable those who seek to enable the Houthis’ destabilizing activities.”

As the US and Israeli forces attack regions that the Houthis control militarily in Yemen, Thursday’s actions imply that Washington will keep increasing economic pressure on the organization.

The sanctions make it very impossible for Americans to conduct financial transactions with US companies and individuals and restrict their assets.

Hours after Israel targeted targets in Yemen, including power plants close to Sanaa, killing at least nine people, the US imposed sanctions. The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, launched missiles towards Tel Aviv prior to the Israeli bombardment.