On November 18, 2021, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Saleh Mesfer Alshaer, a senior Houthi military officer and commander of a military logistics support organization that Houthi-controlled courts have designated as the “judicial custodian” of assets seized from Houthi opponents. According to OFAC, Alshaer is responsible for using extortion and other unlawful tactics to confiscate more than $100 million worth of property from companies associated with anti-Houthi figures. OFAC alleges that Houthis have used tthe confiscated funds to support military efforts in Yemen, fueling instability and suffering. Alshaer was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13611, which authorizes the blocking of property belonging to persons who threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. This US action was also taken in support of the United Nations Security Council’s Yemen Sanctions Committee designation of Alshaer on November 9, 2021.
As a result of this designation, all property and interests in property of Alshaer within the United States or within the possession or control of a US person are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated person. In addition, entities owned fifty percent or more by one or more designated persons are also blocked.