AhlulBayt News Agency: The Yemeni government has announced a ban on the export, re-export, purchase, and transit of US crude oil through the Red Sea and surrounding regional waters, effective May 17, in response to what it describes as continued American military aggression against Yemen and its civilian population.
In a statement issued by the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), Yemen cited ongoing US airstrikes across multiple provinces, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties, including women and children. The HOCC specifically referenced the April 17 attack on the Ras Issa oil port in Hodeida Governorate, where workers and civilian facilities were targeted, calling it one of the most egregious war crimes committed by the US.
The new sanctions prohibit any involvement with US crude oil (HS Code 2709.00), whether through direct or indirect means, including ship-to-ship transfers and third-party dealings. Violators will be blacklisted and denied access to strategic waterways, including the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.
Exemptions may be granted on humanitarian grounds or for countries and entities opposing US policies, provided they submit formal requests to the Yemeni government. Nasruddin Amer, a senior member of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement, warned that all entities engaging with banned companies risk sanctions, extending to affiliates, shareholders, senior management, family members, and associated entities.
Amer reiterated that the ban is part of Yemen’s legitimate right to respond to US war crimes, infrastructure sabotage, and resource plundering. This move aligns with Yemen’s broader campaign supporting Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel’s war has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
Since October 2023, Yemeni forces have intensified operations against Israeli targets and shipping routes linked to the occupation. In response, the US formed a maritime task force in December to protect vessels bound for Israeli-controlled ports, further escalating regional tensions.
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