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US Sanctions Houthi Network Buying Weapons and Stolen Ukrainian Grain From Russia

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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US Sanctions Houthi Network Buying Weapons and Stolen Ukrainian Grain From Russia
Yemen's Houthi security soldiers guard during a rally by Houthi supporters on International Quds Day on March 28, 2025 in Sana'a, Yemen. (Source: Getty Images)

Two Afghan businessmen and a Hong Kong-based company involved in transporting grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories have been sanctioned by the United States. The US Department of the Treasury announced the measures on April 2, citing the network’s involvement in supplying weapons, raw materials, and sensitive technologies to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned a network of Houthi financial facilitators and procurement agents working with Sa’id al-Jamal, a senior Houthi financial official backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The group allegedly acquired tens of millions of dollars’ worth of commodities from Russia—including weapons, sensitive goods, and stolen Ukrainian grain—for delivery to Houthi-controlled Yemen.

OFAC also identified eight digital asset wallets used to move related funds.Additionally, three Russian-registered companies—Edison, Kolibri Group, and Sky Frame—were added to the sanctions list. All are owned by one of the Afghan businessmen. According to Russian records, the firms operate in household appliances, grain and animal feed trade, and film production.

“The Houthis remain reliant on Sa’id al-Jamal and his network to procure critical goods to supply the group’s terrorist war machine,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Today’s action underscores our commitment to degrading the Houthis’ ability to threaten the region through their destabilizing activities.”

The Houthis have used missiles, drones, and naval mines to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea. These Iranian-backed attacks have killed civilians and caused extensive damage to global shipping infrastructure.

Earlier, it was announced that US President Donald Trump announced a hike in tariffs on April 2, targeting nearly every country in the world, with a few exceptions, including Russia. This was reported by Axios, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

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