U.S. Imposes Largest-Ever Sanctions On Houthi Maritime & Procurement Network

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled its largest sanctions yet against the Iran-backed Houthis, targeting a global web of shipping, procurement, and financial networks that officials say fund and arm the group.

The action designates 32 individuals and entities and identifies four oil tankers linked to maritime operations under Houthi control. U.S. authorities said the measures are intended to disrupt activities ranging from fundraising and smuggling to weapons procurement and attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

According to U.S. officials, the network under sanction helps the Houthis acquire advanced weapons components, including ballistic missile, cruise missile, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) parts, used in attacks against American forces, allies in the region, and commercial vessels.

The entities blacklisted are UAE-based Tyba Ship Management DMCC, which the U.S. linked to a businessman named Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, identified as Houthi-affiliated. Tyba manages four oil tankers:

• Star MM (Barbados flag)
• Nobel M (Antigua and Barbuda flag)
• Black Rock (Panama flag)
• Shria (Antigua and Barbuda flag)

These vessels were identified as discharging oil at the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa port. The company was also tied to Marshall Islands-based firms that hold registration for some of the tankers, including the Nobel M, Shria, and Star MM.

The sanctions also extend to several companies in China accused of supplying military-grade materials and hiding them within commercial shipments.

Guangzhou Yakai International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. was accused of arranging shipments of dual-use items that supported the Houthis’ weapons development.

Guangzhou Nahari Trading Co., Ltd. allegedly procured UAV components and concealed them in shipments bound for Yemen.

Hubei Chica Industrial Co., Ltd. was accused of supplying chemical precursors for ballistic missiles and other advanced weapons while also helping falsify shipping documents to bypass Chinese export rules.

Treasury officials said that one of these companies alone was involved in shipping hundreds of thousands of tons of chemical precursors used for missile motors and explosives.

The Houthis are believed to generate significant revenue by importing oil and other goods through ports under their control. They also run complex smuggling routes and launder money to finance their global weapons supply chain. The sanctions specifically target the procurement operatives, front companies, facilitators, and suppliers who keep these activities running.

Reference: US Department of Treasury

Source: Maritime Shipping News