he United States has imposed additional sanctions targeting a Yemen-based facilitator of the Houthi rebels, as the Biden administration continues to tighten its financial constraints on the Iran-backed militia amid increased maritime aggression linked to Israel’s conflict with Gaza. The Houthis have attacked more than 50 commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea since November 19, citing solidarity with the Palestinian people and initiating a maritime trade blockade in the region.
In response, the Biden administration has repeatedly targeted the network of Sa’id al-Jamal with sanctions to weaken the Houthis’ control over the Red Sea. Al-Jamal, an Iran-based financier, has been accused of generating tens of millions of dollars for the rebels by shipping Iranian commodities, including oil. On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned two individuals, Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad, 55, and Zhuang Liang, 46, along with three firms and several vessels, for their complicity in al-Jamal’s illicit operations network.
“Today’s targets form part of a multifaceted illicit operations network, ranging from clients and facilitators to insurance providers, vessels, and ship management firms. We will continue to use all available tools to disrupt funding streams that enable the Houthis to continue their destabilizing activity in the region,” the Treasury stated.
Bin Ahmad, a dual citizen of Malaysia and Singapore, was sanctioned for providing al-Jamal’s network with management and brokering services, including negotiating shipments to Malaysia and vessels to trade illicit Russian and Venezuelan goods. Zhuang was blacklisted on accusations of money laundering and other financial schemes for al-Jamal’s network. The Chinese native is also accused of assisting al-Jamal’s business partner, Houthi-affiliate Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud, in circumventing sanctions.
Al-Jamal and Mahamud had previously been designated by the United States and other Western democracies. Several vessels involved with al-Jamal’s operations were identified by the Treasury, along with firms that provided insurance for his shipping vessels.
Sanctions generally freeze all assets in the names of those designated, prohibit them from accessing the U.S. financial system, and bar U.S. persons from doing business with them.
