Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility Wednesday for a cruise missile attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden. The strike, which seriously damaged the Minervagracht and injured two crew members, marked the most significant escalation in months by the group outside the Red Sea corridor.
The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen have announced so-called “sanctions” against 13 major American oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Marathon Petroleum. The announcement was made Tuesday through the group’s “Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center,” a front used by the militants to issue threats under the guise of diplomatic language.
President Donald Trump used his Thursday White House meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to push Turkey to halt purchases of Russian oil, warning that continued energy imports undermine global efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The Trump administration is charging forward with a major expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing, reversing Biden-era restrictions and signaling a renewed push for American energy dominance. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a detailed lease sale schedule covering the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
Federal regulators have updated oil and gas commingling rules to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Department of the Interior aims to strengthen domestic energy production by cutting red tape and streamlining operations, while maintaining safety and efficiency standards. Energy advocates praised the move as a victory for American workers and families.
A Ukrainian drone strike overnight ignited a major fire at an oil depot near the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, intensifying the ongoing conflict as both sides continue to exchange strikes across the region. Russian officials confirmed the attack Sunday, marking yet another escalation amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire.
