🔥 Houthis Target US Oil Majors Exxon, Chevron

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Houthis Threaten US Energy Giants

Yemen’s Houthi movement announced this week that it will target US oil giants, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, escalating tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The warning comes despite an earlier understanding reached with President Donald Trump’s administration not to attack US-linked vessels navigating these key waterways.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran and control much of northern Yemen, made the declaration through the Sanaa-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC). While nominally tasked with liaising between Houthi authorities and commercial shipping operators, the HOCC is closely tied to the group’s military operations.

In its statement, the HOCC said it had sanctioned 13 US companies, nine executives, and two vessels. Though the details of how these sanctions would be enforced remain unclear, the move signals a new phase of confrontation that could complicate already fragile shipping conditions in the region.

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are vital arteries for global energy and container trade, linking the Suez Canal to markets in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Disruptions here can quickly reverberate across supply chains worldwide, as seen during earlier attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi forces.

Energy analysts warn that direct threats to Exxon Mobil and Chevron—both of which have extensive global operations—could trigger heightened security costs for oil tankers and raise insurance premiums for vessels transiting the area. While the truce with Washington previously offered a measure of stability, this latest escalation underscores the volatility of maritime security in one of the world’s most strategic chokepoints.

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