A U.S. official and two individuals acquainted with the White House decision said that the Biden administration is set to make an announcement shortly on its intention to reclassify the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, as specifically designated global terrorists.
The action is being taken in response to the Houthis’ several attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Before the anticipated official announcement, the three individuals who were aware of the decision asked to speak anonymously since they were not permitted to remark.
Has US listed Yemen’s Houthis as terrorists before?
Reversing a decision made by former President Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden’s administration officially delisted the Houthis as “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorists” in 2021. Concerning the limits on assistance delivery to war-torn Yemen, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have criticized the designations.
To facilitate the entry of food supplies and humanitarian help into Yemen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delisted the Houthis in February 2021 from both the list of foreign terrorist organizations and the Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Why are Yemen’s Houthis to be designated as international terrorists?
The Biden administration plans to relist Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a global terrorist group is due to their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Iranian-backed group, which was designated as such in January 2021, raised concerns from humanitarian groups due to potential restrictions on aid for Yemen’s impoverished civilians.
However, a U.S. official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a policy that would make it easier to prosecute criminals for providing money, supplies, training, or other “material support” to the Houthis, a “specially designated global terrorist” group, starting in mid-February. This move could complicate humanitarian assistance to Yemen, as aid groups argue it could be a significant step in the global conflict.
Houthis as a “terror” group
After claiming to have seized a commercial ship in the Red Sea, the Houthi rebels in Yemen are being considered for a new classification as a “terrorist” group by the White House. Spokesman for the US National Security Council John Kirby denounced the capture on Tuesday, referring to it as “piracy of a ship in international waters” and accusing the Houthis of “recent targeting of civilians.” across the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important commercial routes in the world passes across the Red Sea.
Large portions of northern Yemen as well as the capital city of Sanaa are under the authority of the Houthis, an Iran-backed organization that has threatened to take Israeli ships in the Red Sea and launched missile and drone assaults against Israel in recent weeks. On Sunday, Galaxy Leader was stormed by Houthi soldiers.
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