The U.S. State Department on Thursday accused Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., a Chinese satellite firm linked to China’s military, of directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi fighters with imagery used to target U.S. and international vessels in the Red Sea.
“We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a regular briefing.
She described the assistance as “unacceptable” and criticized China’s broader pattern of supporting adversarial regimes.
The Financial Times first reported U.S. officials’ claims that Chang Guang was supplying reconnaissance data to Houthi forces. Bruce noted that American officials had raised the issue with Beijing, but alleged that the support continued despite diplomatic engagements.
“China consistently attempts to frame itself as a global peacemaker,” Bruce said. “However, it is clear that Beijing and China-based companies provide key economic and technical support to regimes like Russia, North Korea, and Iran and its proxies.”
A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told Reuters that he was unfamiliar with the situation and declined to comment.
Separately, U.S. Central Command said American forces struck Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port on Thursday, targeting Houthi logistical resources. The port was described as a “source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists,” according to a CENTCOM statement.
Destruction of Houthi Controlled Ras Isa Fuel Port
The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their… pic.twitter.com/SRiELV4juk
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 17, 2025
NEW: The U.S. military destroyed fuel infrastructure used by Yemen’s Houthi at Ras Isa port. pic.twitter.com/llI9uGkIXw
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 17, 2025
The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the International Bank of Yemen and three senior executives, naming Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi and Abdulkader Ali Bazara, for allegedly enabling Houthi access to the global financial system.
“Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis’ efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender said.
Financial institutions like IBY are critical to the Houthis’ efforts to access the international financial system and threaten both the region and international commerce. Treasury remains committed to working with the internationally recognized government of Yemen to disrupt the…
— Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender (@TreasuryDepSec) April 17, 2025
The sanctions freeze all assets under U.S. jurisdiction linked to the designated entities and individuals, continuing a broader U.S. effort to disrupt Houthi financial networks and curtail maritime threats in the Red Sea.
