The United States has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals, 21 entities, and four vessels for their roles in the illicit activities supporting the Iran-backed Houthis. These measures target operatives and companies connected to fraudulent asset seizures and smuggling networks that span Yemen, China, the United Arab Emirates, and the Marshall Islands.
According to a statement from U.S. authorities: "The United States will continue to use the tools at our disposal to eliminate the threats posed by the Houthis. By targeting the illicit front companies and facilitators that sustain the Houthis, we are depriving the Houthis of resources they need to carry out their reckless and destabilizing actions."
The designations were made under Executive Order 13224, as amended, which is aimed at disrupting terrorist financing. The move follows previous actions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) taken on several dates between June 2024 and July 2025 against Houthi leaders, smugglers, financiers, procurement operatives, and suppliers. The effort aligns with National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which calls for increased economic pressure on Iran and its affiliates.
In February 2024, Ansarallah was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group under E.O. 13224. On March 5, 2025, it was further classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Department of State.
For more details about these measures or past actions related to sanctions against Houthi-affiliated actors or their facilitators in international trade and shipping sectors, further information can be found through official Treasury press releases.
