Houthis Claim Attack and Announce New U.S. Targets

The Houthis have confirmed responsibility for the latest assault in the Red Sea and have identified new American-linked targets, according to a statement sent to media outlet Splash.

The general cargo ship Minervagracht, hit on Monday, remains adrift and burning in the Gulf of Aden after its crew was evacuated yesterday. The Houthis said the vessel was attacked because its owner, Spliethoff, had previously called at Israeli ports.

Alongside the claim, the Houthis issued a sanctions list naming multiple companies and individuals. The list primarily focused on oil firms, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, as well as the CEOs of these companies. Shipping firms such as Diamond S Shipping and two International Seaways vessels were also cited.

This escalation follows earlier warnings. In August, the Houthis sent formal notices to 64 international shipowners, accusing them of violating what the group calls a blockade of Israeli ports. These notices, described as “pre-penalty” warnings, declared that affected fleets are now “prohibited from transiting the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea,” and could be attacked “wherever they fall within reach.”