(VOA News) The U.S. government recently sanctioned four key officials of the Houthi rebels, an Islamic Shia militant group in Yemen, who have continued to attack and threaten international commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The U.S. Treasury announced in a press release yesterday (25th) that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated key Houthi rebels who have been supporting such acts as targets of sanctions.
Those subject to sanctions included Houthi Defense Minister Mohammed al-Atifi, Houthi Navy Commander-in-Chief Muhammad Fadl Abd al-Nabi, Houthi border guard chief Muhammad Ali al-Kadhiri, and Houthi procurement chief Muhammad Ahmad al-Taribi.
The British government also announced sanctions against these four people at the same time as the United States.
Brian Nelson, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said the Houthi rebels’ continued terrorist attacks against commercial ships and civilian sailors legally transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted the freedom of navigation that is critical to international supply chains and global security, stability, and prosperity. He said he was threatening.
At the same time, he said that these sanctions with the UK demonstrate the joint action of the two countries to use all their powers to stop the actions of the Houthi rebels.