Al-Houthi money evaporates abroad and funding is cut
English - Wednesday 13 January 2021 الساعة 07:44 am
Aden, NewsYemen, Exclusive:
Economists considered the decision to designate the Houthi group as a "terrorist organization" by the United States of America as a strangulation of foreign funds for the activities of the terrorist Houthi militia, and the freezing of the huge financial assets that the militia leaders have accumulated during the past years.
On Monday, January 11, 2021, the US State Department announced the designation of the Iranian Houthi militia in Yemen on its black list of terrorist groups.
Washington's decision came ten days before the end of President Donald Trump's term, provided that the decision will be implemented on the 19 of this month, and it aims to strengthen deterrence against the harmful activities of the Iranian regime.
The American blacklist includes three Houthi leaders, their leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, Abdul-Khaliq Al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya Al-Hakim, and these sanctions will take effect on January 19, the day before the US president-elect Joe Biden takes office.
Economists confirm that the decision constitutes a fatal blow to the Houthis, for whom one of the main goals was to get rich, and all Houthi leaders now have companies, luxury cars and huge investments inside and outside the country.
According to local economic estimates, the wealth collected by the militias from public and private sector resources, foreign aid and drug trafficking amounted to about $ 14 billion, including what is invested abroad, other real estate assets, and commercial companies that have replaced the traditional private sector.
The declaration of the Houthis as a terrorist group, will allow Washington to impose restrictions on the economic and financial activity of the militia, and freeze its assets and assets in the United States, if any. It also means criminalizing Americans ’funding of militia in any way.
American banks will also be prohibited from any financial transactions of the militia and with it.
The US Treasury will issue some permits that apply to humanitarian activities carried out by NGOs in Yemen, and to specific dealings related to exports of vital commodities to Yemen, such as food and medicine.
From the moment Washington officially declares the Houthis a terrorist group, members of this militia and those associated with it will be prevented from entering the United States. It would also mean making it easier to deport immigrants who worked or worked for her from the United States.
