The designation of Yemen Kuwait Bank sends a strong message to all businesses operating in Houthi rebels-controlled areas: engaging with or enabling the Houthis is no longer a risk that can be taken lightly, according to Yassin K Fawaz, an American security and terrorism expert, who published an opinion on The Arab Weekly.
Fawaz added: As the United States escalates its pressure on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, the economic fall-out is poised to affect not only the Houthis themselves but also a wide range of businesses operating in Houthi-controlled areas. With the recent US designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, effective from March 4, 2025, the situation in Yemen has entered a new phase of both economic and political volatility.
This decision is expected to severely disrupt the Houthis’ ability to access global financial markets, which could significantly affect their capacity to import goods and maintain economic stability. However, the Houthis are expected to find ways to circumvent these sanctions, which will prolong their de facto governance over the areas they control.
The US sanctions, which came into effect in March 2025, target not only the Houthi group itself but also individuals, organizations and businesses that provide any form of support. For businessmen and companies working within areas under Houthi control, these new regulations represent a serious challenge. Many have been relying on trade routes through these territories, especially in the capital Sana’a, to maintain access to essential goods and services. However, with the imposition of these stringent sanctions, such access may be cut off, and any financial transactions tied to the Houthis will be subject to US scrutiny.
In a significant move earlier this year, on January 17, 2025, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Yemen Kuwait Bank for providing financial support to the Houthis. The bank had been instrumental in facilitating the Houthis’ access to the international financial system, allowing them to finance destabilizing attacks in the region. The bank also aids the Houthis in exploiting the Yemeni banking sector to launder money and transfer funds to its allies, including Lebanese Hezbollah. This is a clear indication of the US government’s resolve to shut down financial networks that sustain Houthi power.
The Treasury’s sanctions specifically target Yemen Kuwait Bank for its involvement in laundering money, facilitating Iranian oil sales and helping the Houthis establish front companies.
The sanctions are not just limited to the Houthis but extend to any financial institution, individual, business or organization that assists them, directly or indirectly. This action serves as a warning to others in the region who may be considering continuing their business dealings with the Houthis or circumventing sanctions to maintain operations.
This move aligns with ongoing efforts by US Treasury and US intelligence officials to track and disrupt any entities or individuals supporting the Houthis. The message to businesses is clear: continuing operations with or indirectly supporting the Houthis is no longer just risky, it is a direct violation of US sanctions, and the repercussions will be severe.
For Yemeni business leaders operating in Houthi-controlled territories, the decision to engage with the group has always carried inherent risks. But now, with the US designating the Houthis as a terrorist organization, those risks have escalated significantly.
Any businessman or company that engages in trade with the Houthis could find themselves designated as an “SDN” (Specially Designated National) by the US Department of the Treasury. This designation means that they would face a complete freeze of their assets in the US and be cut off from global financial networks, including the SWIFT system.
Even more troubling is the growing risk of secondary sanctions, meaning that companies or individuals working with countries sympathetic to the Houthis or involved in circumventing sanctions could face consequences, even if they are not directly dealing with the Houthis. In a globalized business world, the threat of secondary sanctions is a powerful deterrent, as it could shut down opportunities for trade with the international community, drastically limiting business prospects and international partnerships.