OFAC implemented State's designation of Ansarallah ("the Houthis") as an FTO by updating the existing Ansarallah entry on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). Ansarallah was already listed on the SDN List as a result of State's February 16, 2024 designation of the group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
OFAC also updated three Ansarallah-related general licenses (GLs) to authorize certain transactions under the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (FTOSR) (31 C.F.R. part 597): agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices (GL 22A); noncommercial, personal remittances (GL 24A); and third-country diplomatic missions (GL 28A).
OFAC also amended three additional Ansarallah-related GLs. Specifically, OFAC issued GL 25A, which winds down the previously issued GL by authorizing the delivery and offloading of refined petroleum products in Yemen through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time April 4, 2025, provided such products were loaded on a vessel prior to March 5, 2025. Authorizations in GL 25A replace and supersede previous authorization for transactions related to the provision of refined petroleum products in GL 25. Additionally, OFAC issued GL 26A to exclude refined petroleum products from goods that can be imported or exported through ports and airports in Yemen. OFAC also issued GL 23A, which eliminates the previous authorization of transactions for the receipt or transmission of telecommunications to or from Yemen and now only authorizes transactions within Yemen for the receipt or transmission of telecommunications involving Ansarallah.
The above GLs supplement broad preexisting humanitarian GLs in the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (GTSR) and FTOSR covering the United States government, certain international organizations and entities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and for the provision of food, other agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices for personal, non-commercial use. For more information on these baseline humanitarian general licenses, please consult OFAC's Supplemental Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance, and FAQs 1105, 1106, 1107, and 1108. Other humanitarian-related guidance documents are available in the NGO section of OFAC's Information for Industry Groups webpage. Note that activities authorized by GLs issued by OFAC do not relieve persons from compliance with any other laws or requirements of other federal agencies.
As a result of OFAC's amendments to Ansarallah-related GLs in conjunction with the FTO designation, OFAC has also removed OFAC's Compliance Communiqué: Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian-Related Assistance and Critical Commodities to the Yemeni People.
Non-U.S. persons may engage in or facilitate transactions for which a U.S. person would not require a specific license pursuant to the GTSR or FTOSR without exposure to sanctions under the GTSR or FTOSR.
OFAC prioritizes specific license applications and requests for guidance related to humanitarian activity. OFAC encourages anyone with questions to reach out to the OFAC Compliance Hotline.