Sanctions on Houthi’s top military leaders come shortly after the US removed the rebel movement from the ‘terrorist’ list.
The United States has imposed sanctions on two Houthi rebel leaders in Yemen, announcing the purchase of their weapons from Iran for use in “complex” cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and shipping ships. in the Red Sea.
“Today, the United States is taking action to respond to this behavior,” the State Department said in a statement Tuesday, using the name “Ansarallah” for the Houthi movement. “The United States has reaffirmed our commitment to promoting accountability for Ansarallah’s malignant and aggressive actions, which include exacerbating conflict in Yemen.”
The State Department argued that Ned Price on February 28 condemned a cross-border attack on Saudi Arabia according to a statement made by the Houthis.
The two sanctioned are Houthi air force chief Ahmad al-Hamzi and Yemen’s naval and naval defense chief Mansur al-Saadi, whom the U.S. Treasury says is “responsible for orchestrating attacks” .
The war in Yemen began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized major oaths of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered the war in 2015, gathering a U.S.-backed armed coalition to overthrow the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi bring back.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been accused of supporting organizations involved in human rights abuses, including the introduction of the famine that is threatening millions with hunger.
The administration of President Joe Biden has aimed at restoring the relationship between Riyadh and Washington, which was warm under former President Donald Trump.
The move is different from how the Biden administration acknowledges Saudi Arabia’s role in the Yemeni war and removes the “terrorist” designation that the Trump administration imposed on the Houthi rebels.
Blinken said after the assignment was removed in February that Washington is monitoring Houthi ‘s movement activity and recognizing new targets to be hit by sanctions, particularly those responsible for shipping attacks Red Sea trafficking and drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.
“We will continue to closely monitor the activity of Ansarallah and its leaders and are actively identifying additional targets for assignment,” Blinken said at the time.
We condemn Ansarallah’s aggressive actions, including threatening attacks on civilians in Saudi Arabia and Marib. Today we assign two more militant leaders, Mansur Al-Sa’adi and Ahmad Ali Ahsan al-Hamzi, for the ongoing surveillance of attacks and the acquisition of weapons from Iran.
– Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 2, 2021
The war in Yemen has erupted in recent months, especially in the last Hadi fortress at Marib, which the Houthis hope to control.