Yemen Monitor / Washington / Reuters + Agencies:
The US on Monday imposed sanctions on three ships and their owners for transporting oil and gas products to the Houthis in Yemen, as Washington continues to pressure the Iran-aligned group over its attacks on Red Sea shipping.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the sanctions targeted ZAS Shipping and Trading and Great Success Shipping, both registered in the Marshall Islands, and Bagzack Shipping, registered in Mauritius. The cargo ships operated by these companies were used to deliver oil and gas products to Ras Issa port, which is under Houthi control.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government welcomed the new sanctions against the Houthis.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Volkoder stated:
“Today’s action underscores our commitment to disrupting the Houthis’ efforts to finance their dangerous and destabilizing attacks in the region.”
He added, “The Treasury Department will continue to use its tools and authorities to target those enabling the Houthis to exploit the Yemeni people and sustain their violent campaign.”
The sanctions were announced just hours after the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that a suspected U.S. airstrike killed 68 people at a migrant detention center for African nationals in Yemen.
In March, the US designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, accusing the group of threatening the safety of civilians and U.S. personnel in the Middle East, as well as regional partners and global maritime trade.
The Houthi attacks on ships—which the group claims are part of a campaign to support Palestinians in Gaza—have disrupted global trade, fueled inflation concerns, and heightened fears over the broader consequences of the war between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s most densely populated regions, including the capital Sanaa, since ousting the government from the capital in 2014.
