The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on several entities and individuals in Russia, including Afghan businessmen Hushang Ghairat and his brother Sohrab Ghairat, for aiding Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

On Wednesday, the Treasury revealed that the brothers supported Sa’id al-Jamal, a senior Houthi financial figure, in securing millions of dollars’ worth of weapons, sensitive goods, and “stolen Ukrainian grain” from Russia. No additional details on the brothers’ activities were disclosed.

Al-Jamal, a Yemeni businessman based in Iran, is under US sanctions for allegedly providing financial and logistical backing to the Houthis, whom the US labels a “global terrorist” group.

US Treasury official Scott Bessent stated: “The Houthis depend on Sa’id al-Jamal and his network to obtain critical supplies for their terrorist war machine. Today’s action reaffirms our resolve to curb the Houthis’ destabilising regional threats.”

In recent weeks, the US has ramped up efforts against the Houthis, with the military conducting multiple airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.