From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 7, 2023
US sanctions network financing Houthis amid uptick in group’s attacks since Oct. 7
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
The US Treasury Department announces sanctions against 13 individuals and entities it says are responsible for funds generated from the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities to the Houthis in Yemen.
The rebel group has fired several ballistic missiles and drones at Eilat since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October, all of which were intercepted or missed their targets. The latest attack came Wednesday when Israel shot down a ballistic missile over the Red Sea.
“The Iranian regime’s support to the Houthis has enabled unprovoked attacks on civilian infrastructure in Israel and on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the US State Department says. “Attacks launched from Houthi-controlled areas have also threatened US warships operating in international waters.”
“Such attacks disrupt maritime security and impede freedom of navigation for commercial vessels, increase regional instability and risk broadening the conflict between Israel and Hamas,” it adds.
