US, UK slap sanctions on Houthi military officials

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (KUNA) -- The United States, jointly with the United Kingdom, imposed sanctions on four military officials of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, who have supported the recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The United States is continuing to take action to hold the Houthis accountable for their illegal and reckless attacks --, the US Department of the Treasury said in a statement on Thursday.
The Houthis' terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms.
The United States is committed to safeguarding international commercial trade and taking action alongside our allies and partners safeguard the safety of these critical waterways, according to the statement.
"Today's action, taken by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), targets four individuals who have supported the Houthis' recent attacks --, including holding civilian crews hostage. "Concurrent with OFAC's designations, the United Kingdom is also imposing sanctions on these key figures of Houthi forces," the statement added.
"The Houthis' persistent terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews lawfully transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden threaten to disrupt international supply chains and the freedom of navigation, which is critical to global security, stability, and prosperity," said Under-Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
"Today's joint action with the United Kingdom demonstrates our collective action to leverage all authorities to stop these attacks," he added. (end) rsr.gb