WASHINGTON – The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a group of Yemeni and Turkish currency exchange services that allegedly help provide financing to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who have been launching attacks on commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea.
Among the sanctions are the head of a financial intermediary in Sana’a, Yemen, along with three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey. The US Treasury alleges that individuals and companies helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis under the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal.
The sanctions block access to American property and bank accounts and prevent targeted individuals and companies from doing business with Americans.
Thursday’s action is the latest round of financial sanctions aimed at punishing the Houthis.
Earlier this month, the United States announced sanctions against 13 individuals and companies that were allegedly providing tens of millions of dollars from the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities to the Houthis in Yemen.
The United States imposed sanctions on a group of Yemeni and Turkish currency exchange services that allegedly helped provide financing to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Via REUTERS
Brian E. Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Thursday’s action “underscores our determination to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to carry out dangerous attacks against international shipping and risk risk of further destabilizing the region.
Nelsons said the United States and its allies “will continue to target key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their supporters in Iran.”
The Houthis have sporadically attacked ships in the region in the past, but attacks have increased since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, escalating after an Oct. 17 explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed and wounded many. Houthi leaders have insisted that Israel is their target.
In December, the White House also announced that it was encouraging allies to join the Combined Maritime Forces, a 39-member association that exists to counter the malign actions of non-state actors in international waters, as it seeks to push back the Houthis. .
Attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have driven away some of the world’s major shipping companies and oil giants, effectively diverting global trade away from a crucial artery for consumer goods and supply. of energy that is expected to cause delays and increases. prices.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn