Investing.com -- The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on three vessels and their respective owners for transporting oil and gas products to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The sanctions were announced on Monday as part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to pressure the Iran-backed rebels who have been attacking Red Sea shipping routes.

The Marshall Islands-registered companies, Zaas Shipping & Trading Co and Great Success Shipping Co, along with the Mauritius-registered Bagsak Shipping Co, have been targeted by these sanctions. These companies utilized cargo vessels to transport oil and gas products to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa, according to a statement from the Treasury Department.

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Michael Faulkender, emphasized the U.S. commitment to disrupting the Houthis’ funding, which enables their destabilizing attacks in the region. Faulkender assured that the Treasury will continue to use its tools and authorities to target those aiding the Houthis in exploiting the people of Yemen and perpetuating violence.

These sanctions were imposed hours after a report by Houthi-controlled television stated that a U.S. airstrike had killed 68 people at a detention center for African migrants in Yemen.

In March, the U.S. designated the Houthis as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization," accusing the group of posing a threat to the safety of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, regional partners, and global maritime trade.

The Houthis, who claim their attacks on ships are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have disrupted global commerce, caused inflation fears, and deepened concerns about the repercussions of the Israel-Hamas war.

Since ousting the government in 2014, the group has maintained control over the most populous regions of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

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