By Al-Fassel | 2025-03-10

The United States sanctioned seven senior leaders of the Houthis (Ansarallah) for weapons smuggling and procurement on March 5, a day after re-designating the Iran-backed group as a terrorist organization.

It also blacklisted a Houthi operative and his company for recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine to generate revenue for the group.

Yemen's government fully endorsed the US designation.

"Since 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a March 4 statement announcing the terror group designation.

The attacks also have targeted "US service members defending freedom of navigation and our regional partners," he said, noting that the Houthis have spared Chinese-flagged ships while targeting US and allied vessels.

"By seeking weapons from a growing array of international suppliers, Houthi leaders have shown their intent to continue their reckless and destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"The US government is committed to holding the Houthis accountable for acquiring weapons and weapons components from suppliers in Russia, China, and Iran to threaten Red Sea security," the Treasury said in a statement.

Weapons procurement

The blacklisted Houthi leaders smuggled military-grade items and weapon systems into Yemen and negotiated weapons procurements from Russia, it said.

Facing sanctions are Houthi spokesman Mohammad Abdulsalam, who helped manage the group's financing network and its efforts to secure weapons and support from Russia, and his aide, Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah Almarwani.

The Houthis' Supreme Political Council chairman Mahdi Mohammed Hussein al-Mashat and council member Mohamed Ali al-Houthi worked to increase cooperation with the Kremlin, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Al-Houthi communicated with officials from Russia and China to ensure the Houthis did not strike Russian or Chinese vessels in the Red Sea.

Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih al-Hadi used his position on the Sanaa Chamber of Commerce to fund and obfuscate purchases of military-grade equipment on behalf of the Houthis.

As part of this effort, he traveled to Russia to secure defense equipment for Houthi militants and investment in Houthi-controlled industries.

Abdulmalek Abdullah Mohammed E Alagri also traveled to Moscow to represent Houthi interests with high-ranking Russian and Chinese officials.

Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber maintains a close relationship with Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal and coordinates illicit procurement and finance activities with al-Jamal’s network. He also has traveled on Houthi delegations to Russia.

Through his company, Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co., Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan al-Jabri facilitated the transfer of Yemeni civilians to Russian military units fighting in Ukraine in exchange for cash.