Overview
Saleh Mesfer Saleh Al Shaer is the U.S.- and U.N.-designated major general, judicial custodian of properties and funds owned by Houthis’ opponents.“Security Council 2140 Sanctions Committee Adds Three Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, November 9, 2021, https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14695.doc.htm; “Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Official Overseeing Group’s Offensive Operations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 20, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0191. Given Al Shaer’s role in overseeing the seizure of property in Yemen—reportedly valued at greater than $100 million—to fund the Houthi military effort, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Al Shaer as a Specially Designated National (SDN) on November 18, 2021.“Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Officer Overseeing Group’s Seizure of Opposition Property,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 18, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0495.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Al Shaer serves as both the commander of the Houthi-controlled military logistics support organization as well as the officer responsible for managing assets and funds confiscated from anti-Houthi companies and individuals. Additionally, as the commander of the military logistics support organization, Al Shaer assists in acquiring smuggled weapons for the Houthis.“Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Officer Overseeing Group’s Seizure of Opposition Property,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 18, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0495.
Since early 2018, Al Shaer has been involved in the widespread and unlawful appropriation of assets and entities owned by individuals under arrest by the Houthis or who were forced to take refuge outside of Yemen. According to the U.N. Security Council, Al Shaer allegedly belongs to a large Sanaaa based network that includes his family members, the Houthi special criminal court, the national security bureau, the central bank, the registrar offices of the Yemeni Ministry of Trade and Industry, and some private banks. Those affiliates work with Al Shaer to arbitrarily extort and seize assets from individuals without any judicial process or redress.“SALEH MESFER SALEH AL SHAER,” United Nations Security Council, November 9, 2021, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/saleh-mesfer-saleh-al-shaer.
In the first seven months of 2019, Al Shaer oversaw the seizure of dozens of companies with assets valuing over $100 million. The companies were reportedly affiliated with individuals abroad who opposed the Houthis. Furthermore, on September 14, 2019, when the Houthi-controlled Specialized Criminal Court ordered the diversion and confiscation of funds from 35 Yemeni parliamentarians who opposed the Houthis, Al Shaer was reportedly at the helm of the project. Al Shaer’s subordinates also have intervened in appropriating more than half of the revenues in multiple hospitals throughout Sana’a, where they replaced directors and staff.“Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Officer Overseeing Group’s Seizure of Opposition Property,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 18, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0495.
Given Al Shaer’s role in engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the security and stability of Yemen, on November 9, 2021, the U.N. Security Council sanctioned Al Shaer.“SALEH MESFER SALEH AL SHAER,” United Nations Security Council, November 9, 2021, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/saleh-mesfer-saleh-al-shaer. Shortly afterwards, on November 18, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Al Shaer as an SDN.“Termination of Emergency With Respect to Burundi; Foreign Interference in U.S. Election Designations and Designation Update; Yemen-related Designation and Designations Updates,” United States Department of the Treasury, November 18, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20211118.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Houthis
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, religious, social services provider, territory-controlling, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Arab nationalist, jihadist, Islamist, Shiite, Zaidi
- Position(s):
- Major General, Judicial Custodian
The Houthis are an Iranian-backed, Shiite Muslim armed religious and political movement in Yemen. The Houthis waged a series of bloody insurgencies against the Yemeni government for over a decade, leading to that regime’s overthrow in 2015.
History
United States
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Saleh Mesfer Alshaer as a Specially Designated National (SDN) on November 18, 2021, for his role in the Houthis.“Termination of Emergency With Respect to Burundi; Foreign Interference in U.S. Election Designations and Designation Update; Yemen-related Designation and Designations Updates,” United States Department of the Treasury, November 18, 2021, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20211118.
United Nations
The U.N. Security Council sanctioned Saleh Mesfer Saleh Al Shaer on November 9, 2021 for engaging in acts and providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen.“Security Council 2140 Sanctions Committee Adds Three Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, November 9, 2021, https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14695.doc.htm.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
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