๐บ๐ธ The United States has intensified its fight against the illicit oil trade linked to the Yemeni Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) and has reached a new level of pressure. For the first time, sanctions in this campaign are targeting not only companies and vessels, but also specific captains.
๐ผ The US Treasury Department, through OFAC, has designated individuals, shipping companies, and one tanker that, according to US authorities, were involved in the supply of petroleum products to Houthi-controlled ports. The proceeds are allegedly used to finance attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
๐คโ ๏ธ A key element of the new package is the personal liability of captains who continued to call at Houthi-controlled ports after the end of the authorized transition period. The US emphasizes that this is not a formal flight execution, but rather a matter of informed decisions made on board.
๐ What do the personal sanctions mean:
โ asset freezes in US jurisdictions,
โ blocking of banking and payment transactions,
โ severe restrictions on professional activity.
๐ฅ This step is directly related to the increase in attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The US considers oil revenues to be a key source of funding for these attacks and intends to clamp down on these channels as harshly as possible.