Once again, Houthi militias in Yemen are targeting the private trade sector in three different governorates as the Iran-backed group continues with its efforts to impose control over businesses operating in areas under its rule. Around 3,000 Houthi militiamen have been deployed over the years to take over businesses and trades in Yemen, according to informed sources in the Houthi-run capital, Sanaa. Officials in the Sanaa Chamber of Commerce told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthis have registered about 600 investors of its members with the Chamber since the beginning of 2022. These investors had established new companies working in different fields. In the past two years, a total of around 2,200 Houthi loyalists have been registered by the Chamber as businessmen. Houthi escalation against the private sector in recent days saw the storming, closure and looting of private commercial establishments located in the governorates of Hodeida, Taiz and Sanaa. Moreover, Houthis imposed levies on private sector companies in areas under militia control. Hayel Saeed Anam Group, the biggest manufacturing and trade company in Yemen, announced the suspension of work in its sugar refinery factory in Hodeida. This came after the Iran-backed Houthi militia held distribution trucks and detained the general manager of the factory. In a letter sent to the interior minister of the so-called Houthi government, the Hayel Saeed Anam Group complained that the Houthi Security Assistance Director in Hodeida province suspended the company’s activity and obstructed its work by seizing shuttles used for transporting employees of the company. Abu Mishaal, who was appointed by the group as assistant director of security for Hodeida Governorate, suspended the company’s activity and confiscated transport vehicles used by the company at the Salif Junction point. Additionally, the company reiterated that the arbitrary action taken by Abu Mishaal in Hodeida is against the law and does not serve the public interest. In conjunction with this incident, local sources reported that Houthi militiamen had stormed the Belqis Industrial Development Company and the Belqis Poultry Company in the Taiziyah District of Taiz. The Houthis looted documents, property, and machinery from within company headquarters. Even though the Houthi group imposes high taxes on commercial companies working in areas under their control, Houthi military leaders unlawfully intervene in the private sector and force companies to unlawfully pay taxes in the name of war effort.