Latest news with #Abdulsalam
The National
20-03-2025
- Business
- The National
Who are the key Houthi leaders sanctioned by the US?
The United States this month placed sanctions on seven senior members of Yemen's Houthi militia, along with a Yemeni businessman linked to the Iran-backed group, for allegedly procuring weapons from Russia and supplying Moscow with fighters for its war in Ukraine. The sanctions announced on March 5 came a day after the Trump administration redesignated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, raising fears about the impact on aid deliveries to Yemen and efforts to broker peace after 10 years of civil war. Several of the sanctioned Houthi members made trips to Russia to secure weapons and other support, according to the US Department of Treasury. The US action blocks the sanctioned individuals' access to assets and interests in the US or under the control of US entities, and imposes penalties for dealing with them. As the main spokesman for the Houthis, Mohammed Abdulsalam is one of the group's most prominent figures and chairs the board of the rebel-affiliated Al Masirah Media Network. Mr Abdulsalam 'played a key role in managing the Houthis' internal and external financing network', according to the US Treasury, and visited Moscow to secure Russian weaponry and support. He also met Russian Foreign Ministry and military officials to arrange further visits by Houthi delegations, it said. The US Treasury described Eshaq Almarwani as a 'high-ranking Houthi operative and aide to Mr Abdulsalam' who has visited Russia as a member of Houthi delegations seeking to advance the group's interests internationally. Mahdi Al Mashat is chairman of the Supreme Political Council (SPC) in the rebel-held capital Sanaa, which serves as the executive branch in the Houthi-led administration. He has been in charge of issuing official statements regarding the Houthis' military positions and diplomatic ties. He has also worked on building a relationship between the Houthis and Russia's government, specifically with President Vladimir Putin, according to the US Treasury. Mohammed Ali Al Houthi is a member of the SPC and served as chairman of its precursor, the Supreme Revolutionary Committee. As a spokesman of the Houthis, Mr Al Houthi has stressed the rebels' commitment to ensuring safe passage for Russian vessels amid the group's campaign of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's war in Gaza. The US Treasury said Mr Al Houthi planned to visit Russia with other Houthi members to discuss details of Russian aid to the group. The Houthis, led by Abdul Malik Al Houthi, have repeatedly targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023, a month after the Gaza war began. The attacks disrupted global trade and prompted the US and the EU to send warships to the area. The group also launched drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted. Those attacks resumed on Thursday after Israel launched military operations in Gaza, ending a two-month ceasefire. The US launched three rounds of strikes on the Houthis since March 15 after the rebels threatened last week to resume attacks on shipping because of its blockade on aid entering Gaza. Ali Al Hadi was appointed head of the Sanaa Chamber of Commerce (SCC) after the Houthis took control of the organisation in June 2023. He became a key figure in allocating financial resources to procure weapons, using his position on the SCC to facilitate purchases of military-grade equipment, the US Treasury said. He has also travelled to Russia to secure equipment for rebel fighters and Russian investment in Houthi industries, it said. As a senior Houthi operative, Abdulmalik Al Agri represented the group in meetings with high-ranking Russian officials in Moscow. He has also issued statements explaining the rebel group's efforts to counter international pressure against Houthi-affiliated banking institutions, the US Treasury said. Khaled Saleh Jaber is a Houthi operative who was involved in meetings with Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials as part of delegations sent to Russia. The US Treasury said he is closely connected to Houthi financial official Said Al Jamal and co-ordinates with him in 'illicit procurement and finance activities'. Formerly a major general in the Houthi militia, Abdul Wali Al Jabri is head of Al Jabri General Trading and Investment and was involved in the transfer of Yemeni civilians to Russian military units in Ukraine through his company, the Treasury said. This recruitment, 'often under false and misleading pretences', generated more revenue on behalf of the Houthi leadership, it said.
Khabar Agency
05-03-2025
- Business
- Khabar Agency
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Houthi Leaders for Weapons Smuggling and Recruitment Schemes (Names)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced today the designation of seven high-ranking members of the Houthis, for their involvement in smuggling military-grade weapons and procuring arms from Russia. Additionally, OFAC targeted a Houthi-affiliated operative and his company for recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine, generating revenue to fund the Houthis' militant activities. 'Houthi leaders have demonstrated their intent to escalate destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region by seeking advanced weapons from an expanding network of international suppliers,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 'The United States will continue to use all available tools to disrupt their terrorist activities and undermine their ability to threaten U.S. personnel, regional partners, and global maritime trade.' The sanctions were imposed under the counterterrorism authority of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. This action builds on previous OFAC designations targeting Houthi weapons procurement networks on June 17, 2024, July 31, 2024, October 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024. Ansarallah was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of State on February 16, 2024, for its involvement in terrorism. Yesterday, the State Department also re-designated Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Key Figures Targeted The sanctioned individuals include prominent Houthi political and military leaders who have played critical roles in securing weapons and foreign support for the group's operations: Mohammad Abdulsalam: The Houthis' Oman-based spokesman, Abdulsalam has managed the group's financing network and facilitated weapons procurement from Russia. He has traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian officials and coordinated visits for other Houthi delegations. Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah Almarwani: A senior Houthi operative and aide to Abdulsalam, Almarwani has participated in high-level meetings in Russia and worked to advance Houthi interests internationally. Mahdi Mohammed Hussein Al-Mashat: Chairman of the Houthi-aligned Supreme Political Council (SPC), Al-Mashat has strengthened ties between the Houthis and Russia, including direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also issues official statements outlining the group's militant and diplomatic positions. Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi: A key Houthi operative and member of the SPC, Mohamed Ali has communicated with Russian and Chinese officials to ensure Houthi militants avoid targeting their vessels in the Red Sea. He has also planned trips to Russia to discuss military aid. Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih Al-Hadi: Head of the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Chamber of Commerce, Al-Hadi has financed weapons procurement through shell companies and traveled to Russia to secure defense equipment and investments. Abdulmalek Abdullah Mohammed E Alagri: A senior Houthi operative, Alagri has represented the group in meetings with Russian and Chinese officials and issued statements defending Houthi-aligned financial institutions. Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber: A Houthi operative who has participated in delegations to Russia and coordinated illicit procurement activities with Houthi financial networks. These individuals were designated under E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of Ansarallah. The Treasury also highlighted the Houthis' exploitation of vulnerable Yemeni populations through a human smuggling operation that recruited civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri, a Houthi operative and self-proclaimed major general, facilitated this scheme through his company, Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co. The company arranged for Yemeni civilians to join Russian military units in exchange for cash, creating a new revenue stream for the Houthis. Al-Jabri and his company were designated under E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of The Houthis.
