Biden Admin Makes New Designation On Houthi
In a major foreign policy move, President Joe Biden’s administration announced on Wednesday that they would be designating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, also known as Ansarallah, as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
This decision comes after the group has repeatedly attacked United States interests, including commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. National Security Official Jake Sullivan stated that this move is aimed at impeding terrorist funding to the Houthis.
The Houthis have been engaged in a civil war with the Yemeni government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition, since 2014. This has caused immense suffering for the people of Yemen, with two-thirds of the population, or 21.6 million people, in need of humanitarian assistance and protection services according to the United Nations. In light of this, the Biden administration has assured that they will be putting in place humanitarian carve-outs and licenses to prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people when the designation takes effect in 30 days.
This decision by the Biden administration comes after the previous administration of Donald Trump had also designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization in January 2021. However, the Biden administration subsequently reversed this decision in February, citing concerns about how it could hinder humanitarian aid to Yemen. The Houthis have been accused of committing human rights violations, including killing and torturing civilians, using child soldiers, and blocking aid access to areas under their control.
REPORTER: "Are you willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group?"
BIDEN: "I think they are."
(Biden *removed* the terrorist designation on the Houthis in 2021) pic.twitter.com/k3OYkxloYy
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 12, 2024
The Houthis have been known to have close ties with Iran, a country that the United States has tense relations with. Their designation as a terrorist organization is aimed at cutting off their ties to terrorist funding and discouraging future attacks against US interests. Sullivan also stated that the United States would immediately reevaluate the designation if the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
However, some critics have expressed concerns regarding the potential consequences of this move. In the past, designating groups as terrorist organizations has had negative effects on the civilians living in the areas under their control, including impeding critical aid delivery. This has raised questions about the potential impact on the Yemeni people, who are already facing a dire humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis have denied being a terrorist organization and have accused the United States of supporting their opponents in the conflict. A spokesman for the group has stated that this designation will only serve to further escalate the conflict and harm the civilians in Yemen. The Trump administration's decision to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization has also been met with criticism, with many arguing that it would only worsen the situation for the people of Yemen.
In response to questions from reporters, President Biden himself stated that he considers the Houthis to be a terrorist group and will take action if they continue to behave as they have been. This statement came a day after ordering a retaliatory strike against the Houthis in Yemen, in response to their repeated attacks against commercial ships.
It remains to be seen how this significant foreign policy decision will impact the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the overall situation for the people living there.
The US State Department has re-designated the Houthis as a terror group.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/12QUY4Ky6w
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 17, 2024