SANAA (Dispatches) – 
Yemen on Saturday announced a sweeping ban on U.S. 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 that the sanctions will take effect as of May 17.
The sanctions come 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, the executive director of HOCC said.
“Just as the American enemy previously targeted the Ras Issa oil port in 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 U.S. crude oil (HS Code 2709.00) from U.S. 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 U.S. 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 quoted the HOCC chief as saying that the sanctions are “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.
On Saturday, Yemeni forces carried out a fourth missile strike within a 24-hour period against Israeli-occupied territories, leading to the activation of air raid sirens across multiple locations.
In a statement, military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed that Sanaa targeted an Israeli military position south of Tel Aviv in a retaliatory operation early Saturday morning.
The operation, the statement said, aimed to demonstrate support for the oppressed Palestinian people and condemn the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Israeli regime with the backing of the United States.
The advanced “Palestine 2” hypersonic ballistic missile was used in the operation, which successfully reached its target as the enemy’s interception attempts failed, it added.
Saree asserted that Yemen will persist in providing support and backing for Gaza until the aggression and siege on the region come to an end.
According to Israeli sources, air raid sirens sounded across Al-Quds, Modi’in, and southern occupied territories in anticipation of incoming projectiles. 
Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, reported a 26-year-old man sustained injuries while seeking shelter during the incident.
On Friday, the Yemeni forces “carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli enemy’s Ramat David Airbase”, near the occupied Haifa area, using a “Palestine-2” hypersonic ballistic missile.