Wadah Bin Attiya: What the Houthis are practicing is blatant piracy, exposed and outstanding terrorist acts
Wadah Bin Attiya affirmed that the actions of the Houthis constitute blatant and exposed piracy and exceptional terrorist acts
Several developments are taking place in the Red Sea area, with threats from the Houthis to strike international navigation, exploiting the Palestinian issue. These operations aim to target countries supporting Israel or endorsing its military operations in Gaza. With the increasing threats, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on an individual and three entities ‘responsible for facilitating the flow of Iranian financial aid to the Houthi forces and their destabilizing activities.’
Entities and individuals
The sanctions targeted Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Haddah, the head of the Exchange Association in Houthi-controlled areas in Sanaa, Yemen, where he also heads Napco Exchange and Financial Transfers Company. The sanctions also targeted Napco Company, Al-Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company, and ‘Al-Aman Shipping, Import, Export, and Transportation Limited Company’ based in Turkey.
According to the U.S. Treasury, ‘millions of dollars were transferred similarly through Nabil Al-Haddah’s accounts in Turkey, which were then deposited into accounts belonging to the Houthis in Yemen.’ Brian Nelson, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a release, ‘Today’s action confirms our determination to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to launch serious attacks on international shipping, risking greater destabilization of the region.’
Striking International Navigation
Wadah Bin Attiya, Yemeni political analyst, says the escalation of Iranian-backed Houthi militia against ships has led to the loss of the navigational passage in the Red Sea. He notes that when the Houthi group began its military actions on the international navigation route by targeting commercial ships, striking some, and besieging others, the group realized that, as in its history, it was engaging in actions that violate international law, contradict the UN Charter, and various international agreements and treaties regarding trade and navigation through state waters. All of this is under the pretext of supporting Palestinian resistance and confronting Israeli aggression and crimes against Palestinians.
He added that what the Houthis are practicing is blatant, exposed piracy, and exceptional terrorist acts. Moreover, it is a suicidal adventure that not only affects them but drags all the countries bordering the Red Sea, including Yemen, into unpredictable consequences. This is not different from what Iran practices in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz whenever it wants to send its political messages to blackmail international powers and global influence centers.
