The United States has recently escalated its sanctions against the Houthi rebels by targeting a key facilitator and his network. This action is part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to weaken the Iran-backed militia’s financial underpinnings and disrupt their destabilizing activities, particularly their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
Since November 19, the Houthis have significantly intensified their maritime attacks, targeting over 50 commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea. This surge in aggression is linked to the broader regional conflict involving Israel and Iran’s proxy militia Hamas. The Houthis, showing solidarity with the Palestinians, have engaged in a maritime blockade that has further strained the Red Sea’s crucial shipping lanes.
To counteract this threat, the U.S. Treasury Department has taken decisive action by sanctioning Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad, Zhuang Liang, and several associated entities and vessels. These new sanctions are aimed at dismantling the financial network supporting Sa’id al-Jamal, who has been a critical player in financing the Houthis. Al-Jamal has been previously designated by the U.S. and allied Western nations due to his role in facilitating the movement of Iranian goods, including oil, to the Houthis. His network is suspected of generating tens of millions of dollars for the militia, bolstering their capacity to carry out attacks.
Bin Ahmad, a dual citizen of Malaysia and Singapore, has been sanctioned for providing essential management and brokering services to al-Jamal’s network. His role included negotiating shipments to Malaysia and managing vessels involved in trading illicit Russian and Venezuelan goods. Zhuang Liang, a Chinese national, faces sanctions due to his involvement in money laundering and other financial schemes that support al-Jamal’s network. Zhuang is also accused of assisting Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud, a Houthi affiliate, in evading sanctions.
The Treasury’s sanctions have a comprehensive impact: they freeze the assets of the designated individuals and entities, block their access to the U.S. financial system, and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them. This robust action aims to cut off financial resources available to the Houthis, thereby disrupting their operational capabilities and reducing their ability to execute further attacks.
These sanctions are part of the U.S. administration’s ongoing efforts to address the broader geopolitical instability in the region. By targeting the financial mechanisms that support the Houthis, the U.S. seeks to mitigate the militia’s impact on maritime security and regional stability. The move underscores the U.S. commitment to maintaining open and secure international shipping routes and curbing the influence of destabilizing actors in the Middle East.