Washington imposed sanctions on two individuals and four entities in connection to the procurement of weapons for the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and the provision of military grade and dual-use equipment to the Houthis, the US Treasury said in a statement.

This action, the Treasury said, targets key actors located in China, including Hong Kong, and Yemen who have directly supported Houthis’ efforts to procure military-grade materials abroad and ship these items to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, enabling the group’s ongoing attacks.

“The Houthis have sought to exploit key jurisdictions like China and Hong Kong in order to source and transport the components necessary for their deadly weapons systems,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Treasury will continue to target the facilitators that enable the Houthis’ destabilizing activities.”

The new sanctions targeted Maher Yahya Muhammad Mutahar al-Kinai and his company, Yemen Telecommunication Asset Company for Information Technology (Y-TAC).

They also targeted Ahmed Khaled Yahya Al-Shahare and his three companies, Al-Shahari United, Guangzhou Alshahari United Corporation Limited (Guangzhou Alshahari), and the Hongkong Alshahari United Corporation Limited (Hongkong Alshahari) based in Yemen and China.

The four entities helped facilitate shipments of weapons from China-based suppliers to Houthis, including components for use in Houthi missile and of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) manufacturing, according to the Treasury statement.

Al-Shahari United maintains close contact with Houthi operatives based in China and Yemen, who have used the company to help facilitate some of their most important procurement efforts, the Treasury said.

Also, it said Al-Kinai has coordinated with other Houthi procurement operatives to facilitate shipments of dual-use equipment and components for likely use in Houthi weapons manufacturing.

“Al-Kinai and Y-TAC are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of Houthis,” the Treasury statement said.

It added that since November 2023, the Houthis have deployed a range of UAVs, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles to undertake their reckless campaign targeting merchant vessels, their crews, and US military forces, and Washington’s allies.

The US Department of State had designated Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, effective February 16, 2024, for having committed or attempted to commit, posing a significant risk of committing, or having participated in training to commit acts of terrorism.