The United States has blocked oil supplies to the Houthis through sanctions.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, has imposed sanctions on three shipping companies and three tankers that supply petroleum products to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis.
These companies are: Marshall Islands-registered Zaas Shipping & Trading Co.; Mauritius-registered Bagsak Shipping Inc.; Marshall Islands-based Great Success Shipping Co.
According to the OFAC, the Houthis have deployed missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and naval mines in order to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea. This threatens global freedom of navigation and international trade, as well as the integrity of ports controlled by the Houthis, which they use to profit from transporting goods. In addition, they also profit from selling refined petroleum products.
“Treasury will continue to leverage our tools and authorities to target those who seek to enable the Houthis’ ability to exploit the people of Yemen and continue their campaign of violence,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.
