WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and U.K. on Thursday imposed sanctions on four leaders of Yemen's Houthi rebel group who have supported the militant group's 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 U.S. Treasury. The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans. Members of a former rebel group originally from the remote mountains of northwest Yemen, Houthi leaders are generally seen as having few assets within reach of U.S. authorities to be affected by the sanctions. The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes seeking to stop the attacks.

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Persons: Yemen's, Mohamed al, Muhammad Fadl Abd al, Nabi, Muhammad Ali al, Muhammad Ahmad al, Abdel Malek al, Matthew Miller, “, ”, Miller, Houthi, Brian E, Nelson, Thursday's, Ellen Knickmeyer, Jon Gambrell, Jack Jeffrey Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Treasury, Department, U.S . Defense, State, U.S . Navy, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Gulf of Aden, Red, Gaza, Israel, Yemen, Yemeni, Aden, United Kingdom, London