On February 23, 2022, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated members of an international network led by the US-designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Sa’id al-Jamal, a designated Houthi financier, whose funds have been used to support the Houthi’s war against the Yemeni government. According to OFAC, this war has become increasingly aggressive and threatening to civilians and civilian infrastructure in neighboring states and continues to progress despite calls for peace from the international community. The IRGC-QF was designated in 2007 under the counterterrorism authority Executive Order 13224 for supporting Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jahad, and other terrorist groups; al-Jamal and members of his network, including his associate Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud, were designated in June 2021 pursuant to EO 13224, as amended, for funding Houthis through the sale of petroleum.
OFAC designated a total of 3 individuals, 9 entities and 1 vessel pursuant to EO 13224, as amended, for their connection to al-Jamal, his associate Mahamud or newly-designated persons. OFAC also reports that these designations were issued in close coordination and collaboration with regional Gulf partners.
As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of today’s designees 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 persons unless authorized by OFAC. In addition, entities owned fifty percent or more by one or more designated persons are also blocked.
Department of Treasury Press Release