US Sanctions Individual, Entities Tied to Smuggling Weapons to Houthis

The U.S. Department of State in Washington on Aug. 12, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The United States announced on Oct. 2 it has sanctioned an individual, four companies, and two shipping vessels for allegedly procuring and smuggling weapons and other illicit materials for the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

“These facilitators and suppliers have enabled the terrorist group to acquire dual-use and military grade materials and components needed to manufacture, maintain, and deploy advanced missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the interests of the United States and our allies,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.

Hasan Al-Kuhlani, who is based in Iran, was sanctioned for allegedly facilitating the smuggling of weapons to the Houthis, according to an Oct. 2 statement by the Treasury Department.

The companies sanctioned were Shenzhen Boyu, Shenzhen Jinghon, Shenzhen Rion, and Gemini Marine Limited.

Shenzhen Boyu, a China-based logistics and international shipping company, has allegedly “facilitated multiple shipments of dual-use components for use in weapons production” to the Houthis by transporting them through commercial methods so as not to be caught, according to the Department of Treasury.

Shenzhen Jinghon, a Chinese electronics firm, has allegedly supplied dual-use items to the Houthis to produce missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), according to the Treasury Department.

Shenzhen Rion, another China-based company, has allegedly provided “critical components for use in missiles and UAV development and manufacturing.”

Gemini Marine Limited, which is registered in the Marshall Islands, owns the Izumo and Frunze ships, which also have been tied to illicit Russian oil shipments. The Izumo, which has a Gabon flag, has allegedly carried petroleum items for Iranian Armed Forces General Staff front company Sepehr Energy and Houthi financial official Sa’id al-Jamal, according to the department. Both are under U.S. sanctions.

“Sa’id al-Jamal’s network has provided tens of millions of dollars of illicit oil sales revenue to support the funding of the Houthis’ attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” said the Treasury Department.

The Frunze, which has a Cook Islands flag, has allegedly transported crude oil to the Houthis, according to the department.

“The Houthis continue to leverage their networks of companies and procurement operatives to sustain their reckless attacks on civilian vessels, their unarmed crews, and civilian populations,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith in the statement.

The sanctions come a day after Iran attacked Israel with 181 missiles. Yemen expressed support for the attack. Israel has vowed to retaliate but did not say when it would do so.

A few days ago, Israel’s strikes inside Yemen hit Houthi targets, including a seaport and power plants in the port city of Hodeida used by the Iran-backed Houthis to import Iranian weapons, oil, and military supplies. This appeared to be in retaliation to Sept. 15 and Sept. 28 Houthi strikes targeting Ben Gurion International Airport, which is outside Tel Aviv. Israel intercepted both attacks.

“Over the past year, the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation,” posted the Israel Defense Forces on X, announcing the strike on Houthi targets.

The Trump administration, in its final days, designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

The Biden administration reversed the move shortly after taking office, citing the impact on humanitarian efforts in Yemen. The administration earlier this year labeled the Houthis as a terrorist group under a different designation.