Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Tuesday it would target major U.S. oil companies and their vessels in nearby seas, naming firms including Exxon Mobil and Chevron and warning that ships linked to those firms would be subject to confrontation despite a previously agreed truce. The Houthi-linked Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said it had sanctioned 13 U.S. companies, nine executives and two vessels as “hostile,” framing the move as retaliation for U.S. policies and a response to American sanctions, though it offered no immediate evidence of planned strikes on specific ships.
The announcement raises tension over whether the truce reached in May 2025 under Oman’s mediation in which Houthis pledged not to strike U.S.-linked vessels is unraveling. Analysts say it is unclear whether this shift marks a tactical pivot or a broader escalation that could breach the ceasefire.
Since late 2023, the Houthis have launched repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, particularly targeting vessels they link to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Their actions have included strikes in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea routes, though the bulk of crude oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz have not been significantly disrupted.
The announcement follows a recent missile strike on the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden that wounded two crew members and forced the crew to abandon the burning vessel — an attack Western navies attributed to Houthi forces even though the group did not immediately claim responsibility. The incident underlines how Houthi operations have spilled beyond the Red Sea.
The U.S. has yet to respond publicly to the Houthi’s latest declaration. In previous months, Washington has responded to past Houthi strikes with strikes of its own and says it will continue operations to protect commercial shipping and U.S. interests; U.S. strikes and warnings have failed to eliminate Houthi capabilities and have at times prompted retaliatory statements from the group.
The latest Houthi threat could imperil shipping insurance rates, compel vulnerable firms to suspend operations in the region, and provoke retaliatory U.S. responses. If attacks materialize against the newly sanctioned firms or vessels, the truce’s fragile balance may collapse, risking broader regional spillovers in a sea corridor already critical for global trade.
