The US has slapped sanctions on groups in Turkey and Yemen allegedly responsible for funnelling money to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in a crackdown driven by their attacks on commercial vessels passing through the
The sanctions were placed on the head of the Currency Exchangers Association in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey.
According to the US Treasury, they “facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of...Sa’id al-Jamal”, a financier affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — Quds Force.
The White House has accused Iran of being “deeply involved” in planning the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, including providing the group with “tactical intelligence” to help it target maritime vessels.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon strengthened a multinational military task force with key US allies to protect “freedom of navigation for all countries” in the area.
Denmark’s AP Møller-Maersk, the operator of the world’s second-largest container ship fleet, said this week that it will resume sending vessels through the Red Sea after the coalition began providing naval security.
It is unclear how much the task force will deter the Houthis, as the group has warned that it may carry on with its attacks as long as Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza continues.
The new US sanctions against Houthi financial networks come amid growing concern that the war in Gaza could spill over into a broader regional conflict — a scenario that has so far been avoided.
Benny Gantz, an influential Israeli minister and a member of the war cabinet, threatened to escalate military operations against Hizbollah, which has been launching attacks against targets in northern Israel.
“The situation on Israel’s northern border demands change,” Gantz told reporters. “The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out.”
Written by: James Politi
© Financial Times