According to the US State Department, some leaders of the Houthi militia have been added to the sanctions list as the Houthis continue their attacks in the Red Sea.
The two countries, which jointly placed 4 Houthi military officials on the sanctions list, stated that they will continue to act in coordination to stop the Houthi attacks.
The US administration recently announced that it had reinstated the Houthis on the list of foreign terrorist organizations. The decision will be effective as of February 16, 2024.
SITUATION IN THE RED SEA
On October 31, 2023, the Houthis in Yemen, backed by Iran, began seizing commercial ships off the coast of Yemen, some of which they said were linked to Israeli companies, and attacking some of them with drones and missiles in response to Israel's attacks in Gaza.
US forces announced that they shot down missiles and kamikaze drones fired from Yemen several times during this process.
Following the Houthi actions, many shipping companies decided to suspend their voyages in the Red Sea.
On December 18, 2023, the United States announced the formation of a multinational "maritime task force" called "Operation Welfare Guardian" against Houthi forces with the participation of a group of countries on the grounds that the security of global maritime trade was endangered.
On December 31, 2023, US helicopters fired on three Houthi speedboats in the Red Sea as they tried to seize a ship linked to Israel.
On January 10, the Houthis announced that a US ship was targeted with missiles and kamikaze drones in the Red Sea for supporting Israel.
On January 11, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution submitted by the United States and Japan demanding an immediate end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
About 12 percent of global trade is conducted through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and offers the shortest route between Europe and Asia.
