Yemen bans US crude oil exports through Red Sea, nearby waters

The Yemeni government has announced a sweeping ban on US crude oil in response to Washington’s continued aggression on the Arab country’s soil and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Yemen’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said in a press statement on Saturday that the anti-US sanctions would take effect as of May 17.

The executive director of HOCC said the bans were levied as the “American enemy” continues to launch raids on various Yemeni provinces, targeting civilians and civilian objects, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, including women and children.

“Just as the American enemy previously targeted the Ras Issa oil port in al-Hudaydah Governorate on April 17, 2025, targeting civilian facilities, workers, and employees, in a horrific crime that is considered one of the most heinous massacres committed against humanity, in an attempt to besiege the Yemeni people, the Republic of Yemen has the right to respond to the crimes, massacres, and war crimes committed by the American enemy against the Yemeni people, their infrastructure, and their capabilities,” the statement said.

“Therefore, a decision has been made to prohibit the export, re-export, transfer, loading, purchase, or sale of US crude oil (HS Code 2709.00) from US ports, whether directly or indirectly, including ship-to-ship transfers (STS), whether in whole or in part, including through third parties.”

The HOCC chief warned that companies violating the new oil export ban would be added to the list of aggressors against Yemen, saying vessels owned or operated by such companies will also be denied passage through critical regional waters, including the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.

The press statement added that exemptions would be considered for humanitarian purposes or for countries and companies that oppose US policies by submitting a request to the Yemeni government.

Nasruddin Amer, a member of the political bureau of Yemen’s popular Ansarullah resistance movement, said in a post on X that participating in any transactions with the listed companies carries the risk of being subject to sanctions.

“Sanctions may also extend to entities in which these companies are shareholders, senior managers or actual owners of listed companies, spouses and first-degree relatives of listed natural persons, entities in which listed natural persons hold senior management positions, and entities controlled by or involved in the establishment and management of listed natural persons, as well as those who deal with them,” he added.

Amer also quoted the HOCC chief as saying that the bans were “part of the legitimate right of the Republic of Yemen to respond to the war crimes committed by the American enemy against the Yemeni people, their infrastructure, and their resources.”

Since the onset of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

In support of Israel, the US announced the formation of a maritime task force in the Red Sea in December 2023 to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied territories.

The Yemeni forces responded by ramping up their strikes against strategic and sensitive Israeli and American targets, including the US warships and aircraft carriers that are deployed off Yemen’s coastline.