The Houthis announced sanctions on oil companies and tankers transporting oil from the US, surprising the international community and raising new concerns for shipping.
In a move that stunned the global community, Yemen’s Houthi fighters issued a statement saying they are imposing sanctions on many of the top oil companies, their chief executives, and the tankers that export oil from the US.
The rebels stated that their leadership had banned US oil exports in May of this year.
In statements sent via email to Western media and published online, the group lists twelve major energy oil companies and traders. It includes ExxonMobil, Chevron, Phillips 66, Marathon, Conoco, Valero, and others, along with the names of the companies’ chief executives.
In the announcement, the group stated that these companies are subject to sanctions due to their “involvement in facilitating the export, re-export, transport, loading, purchase, or sale of US crude oil, directly or indirectly, from US ports. This includes ship-to-ship (STS) transfers, and via third parties.”
The shipping company Diamond S Shipping is also included in the list of companies sanctioned by the Houthis.
In addition to the companies, the announcement also singles out two crude oil tankers, which it states are connected to Diamond S and are flagged in the Marshall Islands.
Both vessels were built in 2012 and are currently sailing towards South America. The tankers are the Seaways San Saba and the Seaways Brazos, each with a capacity of 159,000 dwt. The statement does not explain why these vessels or Diamond S were included.
In the past, the Houthis have singled out some other shipping companies, but always accused them of involvement with Israel through investments or shipping cargo to Israeli ports. They have continued to threaten US warships operating in the Red Sea area, but no direct targeting of American vessels has been reported since the brief truce early in the year and the US bombing of Houthi positions in Yemen.
Only a few commercial vessels have been targeted in 2025, despite ongoing threats. Most of the Houthi missile and drone attacks are directed towards Israel, which has prompted multiple retaliatory raids and bombardments from Israel.
What is certain is that the situation does not appear to be normalizing anytime soon, with global commercial shipping once again going through a difficult period.
