UK Authorities Move to Dissolve London-Based Houthi TV Station

UK authorities have initiated steps to remove a London-based Houthi TV station from the official register of companies. Companies House issued a compulsory strike-off notice to Al Masirah TV following an investigation by The National earlier this year, which revealed the entity had been registered as a British business for over a decade despite broadcasting no content.

The UK government agreed to examine the station's presence after MP Bob Blackman raised concerns in the House of Commons. He warned that the entity could violate anti-terrorism funding regulations or serve as a front for the Houthis to secure UK visas. The station has operated using a front company with a mailing address located at a café in London.

While Companies House does not comment on individual cases, compulsory strike-off notices are typically issued when a company defaults on filing accounts or confirmation statements. Records indicate that overdue filings include accounts due by June 30 and a confirmation statement due by May 27. Al Masirah TV will be contacted to verify its operational status and will have two months to prevent dissolution before legally ceasing to exist as a trading entity.

Ammar Al Hamzy, the director general of the channel, is listed alongside Yousef Ahmed Al Moyed as a director of the UK company. The Beirut-based parent channel serves as the primary mouthpiece for the Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, who control large portions of northern Yemen.

Security experts, including former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Jonathan Hackett, previously warned that the UK registration could facilitate visa access for Houthi operatives, potentially aiding intelligence gathering for the movement, Hezbollah, and Iran. The West London address listed for Al Masirah TV, operating under the name Almassira TV Channel Ltd, is situated within a commercial property occupied by a coffee shop.