BREAKING: Trump admin targets shipping companies with sanctions over providing support to Houthis

The Trump administration is targeting shipping companies with sanctions for providing material support to the Houthis by shipping petroleum products to the terrorist group.

According to a press release from the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the action is taken under the direction of the White House to target Houthi leaders, revenue generation, financial facilitators, and suppliers of the terror group.

The shipping companies that are being targeted by the sanctions include Zaas Shipping & Trading Co., Bagsak Shipping Inc., and Great Success Shipping Co.

Zaas Shipping facilitated the delivery of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa using the San Marino-flagged "Tulip BZ" on April 10 this year, the press release noted. And the Tulip BZ vessel "has also been used to transport petroleum products on behalf of Iran."

Bagsak Shipping made similar moves in facilitating the delivery of gas oil to the Houthis using the Panama-flagged Maisan vessel. Additionally, the "Maisan has also been involved in the export of Russian crude oil and petroleum products from Russian ports since February 2023," the OFAC noted.

Great Success Shipping "facilitated the delivery of gas oil to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa using the Panama-flagged White Whale," the OFAC noted.

“Today’s action underscores our commitment to disrupt the Houthis’ efforts to fund their dangerous and destabilizing attacks in the region,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender. “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.”

During the Biden administration, the Houthis frequently targeted shipping vessels traveling through the Red Sea, causing shipping prices on goods to increase due to the necessity of sending ships around the Horn of Africa instead of through the Suez Canal, a vital waterway linking the Red Sea to international trade. Trump has taken action to deter the Houthi terrorists and has carried out multiple missile attacks against the terrorist group in Yemen.