The Italian magazine Scenarieconomici, specializing in economic, political, and international affairs analysis, revealed that Yemen has announced sanctions against major American oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron. This move makes Yemen the first country in the region to respond to U.S. sanctions with countermeasures that directly target the core of the American economy.

The magazine described the step as a “strategic shift in Yemen’s deterrence toolkit,” noting that the confrontation is no longer confined to the battlefield or the Red Sea but has expanded into the economic and energy sectors. This sends a direct message to Washington that Sana’a possesses the capability to retaliate against aggressors through multiple impactful means.

According to the report, the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center in Sana’a, established last year to liaise with maritime companies, issued an official decision to impose sanctions on 13 American oil companies, as well as on nine executives and entities linked to the United States—a move unprecedented since the war began.

The list includes heavyweight companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum, Valero, Occidental, and Phillips 66.

The sanctions also target the CEOs of these giant firms, including Darren Woods of ExxonMobil, Mike Wirth of Chevron, and Ryan Lance of ConocoPhillips, making the decision tantamount to a declaration of an all-encompassing economic confrontation with Washington.

The magazine quoted the center’s executive director stating that the authority “will use all available means to confront any hostile measures against the Republic of Yemen,” emphasizing that the decision is based on the principle of reciprocity in response to recent U.S. sanctions on Yemeni individuals and entities.

Scenarieconomici noted that Sana’a’s motivations go beyond symbolism, reflecting deep mistrust in the peace process and signaling a Yemeni desire to reset the rules of the game by employing economic deterrence tools alongside ongoing naval operations in the Red Sea in support of Gaza and its resistance.

The report stressed that Yemen’s decision sends a stark warning to Washington that “the era of American economic dominance is nearing its end,” cautioning that the new sanctions could trigger a significant maritime escalation against oil tankers owned or linked to American companies in the Red Sea, potentially igniting geopolitical tensions in one of the world’s key energy corridors.

The magazine concluded that the Yemenis have successfully elevated the conflict to a new level of unconventional deterrence, highlighting that Sana’a no longer relies solely on missile retaliation but now responds to sanctions with sanctions, thereby strengthening its status as an emerging regional power capable of reshaping the strategic equations beyond military calculations to influence the global economic balance.