Washington Imposes Sanctions on Prominent Houthi Leaders, Including Spokesperson Residing in Muscat
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The U.S. announced on Wednesday the imposition of sanctions on seven senior leaders of the Houthi movement, accusing them of illegally importing weapons. Additionally, another member was accused of sending Yemeni civilians to fight in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated that the seven sanctioned leaders “smuggled military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and negotiated weapons purchases for the Houthis from Russia.”
Among those sanctioned is Mohammed Abdul-Salam, “the Houthi spokesperson residing in Oman,” who the Treasury Department said played a “key role” in managing the Houthis’ internal and external financing network.
The Treasury also imposed sanctions on Mehdi Mohammed Hussein Al-Mashat, identified as the head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent commented, “By seeking weapons from an expanding group of international suppliers, Houthi leaders have demonstrated their intent to continue their reckless and destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region.”
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, in a separate statement, said, “The U.S. government is committed to holding the Houthis accountable for acquiring weapons and weapons components from suppliers in Russia, China, and Iran, which threaten Red Sea security.”
The Treasury Department indicated that Abdul-Wali Abduh Hassan Al-Jabri was accused of recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine and of providing revenues to support the Houthis’ armed operations. Through a private company, “Al-Jabri facilitated the transfer of Yemeni civilians to Russian army units fighting in Ukraine in exchange for cash payments.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. announced that the designation of the Houthi movement in Yemen as an international terrorist organization would take effect starting Monday, also listing group leaders on terrorism lists.
The White House, in a press statement, confirmed that the decision includes additional sanctions against militia leaders, notably Mehdi Al-Mashat, head of the so-called political council, and Mohammed Abdul-Salam Falita, who serves as the chief negotiator abroad and media spokesperson.
The White House statement cited the group’s activities as “threatening the security of civilians and U.S. personnel in the Middle East, as well as our closest regional partners and the stability of global trade.”
This decision comes just two days after Trump assumed his presidential duties on January 20, marking the start of his second term.
According to a State Department statement, the designation aims to curb the influence of the Houthi group and weaken their military capabilities, which the U.S. says pose a threat in the region. The State Department noted that Mohammed Abdul-Salam is considered one of the prominent Houthi leaders, representing the group’s public face in many political and media engagements.
The State Department accused Mohammed Abdul-Salam of promoting the Houthis’ ideology and coordinating military and media activities.
The State Department stated that listing him on the terrorism list reflects the Houthis’ continued human rights violations in Yemen and their threat to regional and international security.
