After weeks of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen against shipping in the Red Sea, ostensibly aimed solely at Israel-related ships but affecting all shipping, the United States Treasury Department announced the sanctioning of one individual and three entities responsible for funding the Houthis.
This effort joins with the US-formed task force meant to protect international shipping via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal from and to Europe and Asia, an effort which has struggled to find open and active partners aside from a handful of countries such as the United Kingdom.
The sanctions message takes great care to speak of Houthi "forces" acting "recklessly" and violating international law but saying nothing of Houthis engaging in terrorism, continuing the Biden administration's refusal to designate the Houthis as terrorists.
FDD Senior VP for Research Jonathan Schanzer had this to say on the effort:
