The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has announced the designation of a Houthi-affiliated operative known for supporting Houthi attacks against shipping vessels in the Red Sea, as well as a board operator who transports goods to aid their efforts.
According to a DOD news release, Mohammad Reza Falahzadeh (Fallahzadeh), the Deputy Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), and Ibrahim al-Nashiri, a Houthi member, are included in these designations.
The news release stated, "We are taking this action in coordination with the United Kingdom through our bilateral partnership in the global fight against terrorism. This action follows the recent U.S. designation of Ansarallah (commonly known as the Houthis) as a Specifically Designated Global Terrorist due to its unprecedented attacks on international maritime commerce in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."
In addition, according to the same release, two more Iranian proxies have been designated by the U.S. government for shipping over $100 million in goods for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). MODAFL is responsible for shipping Iranian weapons to Russia, supporting its invasion of Ukraine with an aerial arsenal and backing Iran-aligned militia groups operating in the Middle East. The DOD pledged to continue mitigating terrorists' ability to generate revenue while also curbing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.
Earlier this month, the Senate approved a supplemental funding measure which includes additional funds for providing urgent support for Israel following an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. This measure also covers humanitarian support for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and security assistance for Ukraine.
According to another news release, this aid package will include measures designed to mitigate attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups and protect vessels traveling in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks on behalf of U.S. Central Command. Furthermore, the package aims to bolster U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate has already approved aid for Ukraine and funds supporting Israel in its ongoing search for Hamas terrorists, along with aid intended to assist Palestinians displaced by the conflict.
