WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday sanctioned actors it said were helping Yemen’s Houthis generate revenue and acquire materials for weapons, in a move meant to pressure the militants into halting their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and nearby waters.
The sanctions come as the Iran-backed militants continue to disrupt global trade through drone, ballistic and cruise missile attacks that have pushed up global shipping costs and forced companies to halt or reroute traffic around Southern Africa.
The Houthis have claimed since November to be acting in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, but many of the targeted ships have no link to Israel or the war. Retaliatory military strikes led by the United States and the United Kingdom on Houthi weapons stockpiles and sites have so far failed to deter the militants.
The Houthis attacked two commercial vessels last week — one attack involved an uncrewed surface vessel and another involved missiles, according to US Central Command. The attack on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned-and-operated merchant ship MV Tutor caused serious flooding and damage to the engine room, forcing its crew to evacuate. One of its crew members remains missing.
