US Imposes Sanctions on Shipping Companies and Vessels Supplying Oil to Houthis

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

The United States has announced new sanctions against three shipping companies and their vessels for delivering oil and gas products to Yemen’s Houthi forces. The move marks Washington’s latest effort to curb the Iran-backed group’s attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

Sanctions Target Shipping Companies and Vessels

According to a statement from the US Treasury Department, the sanctions apply to:

• Zaas Shipping & Trading Co (Marshall Islands),
• Great Success Shipping Co (Marshall Islands),
• Bagsak Shipping Co (Mauritius).

The targeted vessels were reportedly used to transport oil and gas to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa in Yemen.

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender emphasized the importance of the measures, stating:

Treasury will continue to use all available tools to prevent the Houthis from exploiting Yemen’s people and fueling violence.”

Escalating Tensions in Yemen

The announcement of the sanctions came shortly after reports surfaced that a US airstrike killed 68 people at a detention center for African migrants in Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen.

In March, the United States designated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” citing the group’s threats to the safety of American civilians, regional partners, and the security of global maritime trade.

Impact on Global Commerce

The Houthis claim their attacks on Red Sea shipping are acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
However, these assaults have severely disrupted global trade routes, raised concerns about rising inflation, and heightened fears of broader regional instability linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.