Latest news with #KamalHussainAlJebry
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. sanctions Internationl Bank of Yemen over support for Houthis
April 18 (UPI) -- The United States is sanctioning the International Bank of Yemen over its support of the Houthi Rebels, according to the Trump administration, which also accused a Chinese satellite company of aiding the designated terrorist organization with its maritime blockade. The sanctions against the bank and three of its executives were announced by the U.S. Treasury and State Department on Thursday on accusations of financially supporting the Houthi rebels. Treasury officials accuse the bank of being controlled by the heavily sanctioned Iran-proxy militia and of providing it access to its Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications network, better known as SWIFT, to make international financial transactions. The bank's chair of the board of directors, Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, 61; its executive general manager, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, 69; and its deputy general manager, Abdulkader Ali Bazara, 72, were also sanctioned. "Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender said in a statement. "Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis' ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks." Since November 2023, the Houthis have enforced a maritime blockade of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, attacking vessels, including U.S. military ships, that transit the important trade route. They state the blockade is in solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza, of whom more than 51,000 have been killed amid Israel's war against Hamas, another Iran-proxy militia, which began on Oct. 7, 2023. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters during a press conference Thursday that Chang Guang Satellite Technology has been supporting the Houthis' attacks on "U.S. interests." "Their actions, and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them, is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace," she said. "We urge our partners to judge the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese companies on their actions, not their empty words." She added that the Trump administration will not "tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis." UPI has asked Chang Guang Satellite Technology for comment.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump admin imposes sanctions against Bank of Yemen for supporting Houthis
The Trump administration announced sanctions against the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) on Thursday for its financial support of Houthi terrorists. Along with the bank, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning key leaders of IBY, like its Chairman of the Board of Directors Kamal Hussain Al Jebry; Executive General Manager Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Deputy General Manager Abdulkader Ali Bazara. By sanctioning IBY, the U.S. hopes to stop Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. "Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender said. "Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis' ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks." Based in Sana'a, Yemen, the IBY is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis and provides the group with access to the bank's Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network to make international financial transactions, the Treasury said. Trump Takes Swipe At Biden, Says Us Will Support Somalia Against Houthis The IBY, for instance, has allegedly aided Houthi businesses and officials to pursue oil on the SWIFT network, while also facilitating attempts by the terrorist group to evade sanctions oversight. Read On The Fox News App Under Thursday's sanctions, all property and interests in property of the leaders named, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Trump Touts Airstrike On Houthis, Showing Video: Will 'Never Sink Our Ships Again' OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce spoke about the sanctions during a press briefing Thursday, sending a message to anyone who supports foreign terrorist organizations like the Houthis. Us Forces Carry Out Airstrike In Southern Somalia, Killing 3 Al-shabaab Terrorists "The United States is committed to disrupting the Houthi financial networks and banking access as part of our whole-of-government approach to eliminating Iran's threat network," she said. "Moreover, we can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited (CGSTL) is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. Interests. Their actions and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them, is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace. She continued, urging partners of the U.S. to judge the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese companies on their actions, and not just their words. "Restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea is a priority to President Trump," Bruce said. "Beijing should take this priority seriously when considering any future support of CGSTL. The United States will not tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations such as the Houthis."Original article source: Trump admin imposes sanctions against Bank of Yemen for supporting Houthis
Fox News
17-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump admin imposes sanctions against Bank of Yemen for supporting Houthis
The Trump administration announced sanctions against the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) on Thursday for its financial support of Houthi terrorists. Along with the bank, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning key leaders of IBY, like its Chairman of the Board of Directors Kamal Hussain Al Jebry; Executive General Manager Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Deputy General Manager Abdulkader Ali Bazara. By sanctioning IBY, the U.S. hopes to stop Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. "Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender said. "Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis' ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks." Based in Sana'a, Yemen, the IBY is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis and provides the group with access to the bank's Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network to make international financial transactions, the Treasury said. The IBY, for instance, has allegedly aided Houthi businesses and officials to pursue oil on the SWIFT network, while also facilitating attempts by the terrorist group to evade sanctions oversight. Under Thursday's sanctions, all property and interests in property of the leaders named, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce spoke about the sanctions during a press briefing Thursday, sending a message to anyone who supports foreign terrorist organizations like the Houthis. "The United States is committed to disrupting the Houthi financial networks and banking access as part of our whole-of-government approach to eliminating Iran's threat network," she said. "Moreover, we can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited (CGSTL) is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. Interests. Their actions and Beijing's support of the company, even after our private engagements with them, is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace. She continued, urging partners of the U.S. to judge the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese companies on their actions, and not just their words. "Restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea is a priority to President Trump," Bruce said. "Beijing should take this priority seriously when considering any future support of CGSTL. The United States will not tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations such as the Houthis."
Yemen Online
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
US imposes sanctions on Yemen bank, citing support to Houthis
The United States unveiled sanctions Thursday on a Yemen bank, including its key leaders, citing its support for the Houthis in that country. The designation of the International Bank of Yemen (IBY) complements a government effort 'to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea,' said the US Treasury Department. Since November 2023, Houthi forces have targeted shipping lanes using missiles and drones in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where a brutal war has raged since October that year. 'Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce,' said Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender in a statement. The official said the US government was 'committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen.' Thursday's action follows a designation in January of the Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment. In a separate statement, the US State Department added that Washington was 'committed to disrupting Houthi financial networks and banking access.' Besides the IBY, key leaders targeted in Thursday's actions are Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Abdulkader Ali Bazara, the Treasury Department said. As a result of sanctions, property and interests in property of designated individuals in the United States are blocked and must be reported.
Khabar Agency
17-04-2025
- Business
- Khabar Agency
US Targets International Bank of Yemen for Support to the Houthis
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Yemen-based International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) for its financial support to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, which is part of the Iran threat network. As part of this designation, OFAC is also sanctioning key leaders or officials of IBY, Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara. The designation of IBY complements the whole-of-government effort to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. 'Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis' efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce,' said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender. 'Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the Houthis' ability to secure funds and procure key components for their destabilizing attacks.' Today's action against IBY and its officials, which follows the January 17, 2025 designation of Yemen Kuwait Bank for Trade and Investment Y.S.C., further targets the Houthis' access to and exploitation of Yemen's banking sector. It also underscores Treasury's support for the internationally recognized government of Yemen's sovereignty over the Yemeni banking system. This action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. The U.S. Department of State's designation of Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024. On March 4, 2025, the Department of State announced the re-designation of Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. SUPPORTING REPUBLIC OF YEMEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERS Since the Houthis took control of large portions of Northern Yemen, the group has exploited access to formal financial institutions to facilitate transactions in support of their terrorist activities, which have disrupted international shipping and killed civilians. To address Houthi exploitation of these financial institutions, following the U.S. designation of the Houthis as an FTO on March 4, 2025, the Central Bank of Yemen – Aden (CBY – Aden) has worked with banks in Houthi-controlled territory to move their operational headquarters to Aden, Yemen, far from the intimidation and coercive influence of the Houthis. Despite these efforts, IBY continues to refuse to move its headquarters from Houthi-controlled territory. INTERNATIONAL BANK OF YEMEN Y.S.C. Based in Sana'a, Yemen, the International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis and provides the terrorist group access to the bank's Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network to make international financial transactions. For instance, IBY has aided Houthi-associated businesses and officials to purchase oil through the bank's access to the SWIFT network. IBY has also facilitated attempts by the Houthis to evade sanctions oversight, and has helped the Houthis to mobilize resources and confiscate assets from Houthi opponents. IBY has refused to comply with CBY – Aden information requests to avoid revealing the details of these Houthi confiscations. The three individuals designated today hold important leadership roles at IBY and are responsible for the bank's operations: Kamal Hussain Al Jebry is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of IBY; Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi is the Executive General Manager of IBY; and Abdulkader Ali Bazara is the Deputy General Manager of IBY. IBY is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Ansarallah. Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being leaders or officials of IBY.
