US and UK impose sanctions on four Houthi leaders after Red Sea attacks

Houthi fighters stage a rally against the US government (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP)

The US and UK have imposed sanctions on four leaders of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group who have supported recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Houthi leaders Mohamed al-Atifi, Muhammad Fadl Abd al-Nabi, Muhammad Ali al-Qadiri and Muhammad Ahmad al-Talibi are all accused of assisting or sponsoring acts of terrorism, according to the US Treasury.