The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Bank of Yemen and three of its senior executives, accusing the bank of supporting the Houthi movement, a powerful armed group in Yemen linked to Iran.
The decision was announced by the US Department of the Treasury, which stated that the bank provided financial channels for the Houthis to conduct international transactions and purchase oil, helping them bypass existing global sanctions. The three sanctioned officials are Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara.
US authorities said the move is part of a broader strategy to disrupt the operations of the Iran-aligned Houthis, who have been accused of attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for targeting ships linked to Israel, saying the attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The Treasury Department accused the International Bank of Yemen of giving the Houthis access to the SWIFT banking system and helping them conceal their financial dealings. Officials believe these actions have supported the group’s military capabilities despite repeated international efforts to isolate them.
Shortly after returning to office, President Donald Trump reinstated the Houthis’ designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This legal classification triggered renewed sanctions and cleared the path for aggressive military and financial actions.
Since mid-March, the US has launched hundreds of airstrikes in Yemen targeting Houthi positions. According to data reported by Anadolu Agency and Houthi sources, these strikes have resulted in over 160 civilian deaths and more than 350 injuries, with many victims being women and children.
Despite the military pressure, the Houthis have continued launching long-range missiles toward Israel and shipping routes in the Red Sea. They say their operations will persist as long as Israeli military action in Gaza continues.
The conflict in Gaza, which reignited on March 18, has caused severe casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes have killed over 1,600 Palestinians and injured more than 4,000 since then. The broader war, ongoing since October 2023, has led to over 167,000 Palestinian casualties, with thousands still missing. Most victims, according to health officials, are women and children.
The latest sanctions are expected to further isolate the Houthi group financially. However, the group’s leadership has shown little indication of stepping back from its military operations, keeping the region on edge amid rising tensions in the Middle East.