An American official explained that the administration of President joe biden May announce plans to reclassify Houthi group There is a specifically designated global terrorist organization in Yemen.
In February 2021, the US administration canceled the classification of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, after they were added to the list in the last weeks of the former president’s administration. Donald Trump.
During that period, the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated Anthony Blinken The decision to cancel the Houthi designation stemmed from concerns about the impact of the decision on the ability to provide necessary assistance to the Yemeni people. He stressed that this step represents an acknowledgment of the “difficult humanitarian situation in Yemen.”
This statement comes in conjunction with the US Army carrying out air strikes in Yemen To target anti-ship ballistic missiles in areas controlled by the Houthis, in response to the group’s attacks that affected shipping movement in the Red Sea.
For their part, the Houthis threatened to expand the scope of their attacks to include American ships, in response to the American and British military strikes that targeted their positions in Yemen.
In a statement on Friday, Biden described the Houthis as a “terrorist” group following attacks carried out by American and British warplanes, ships and submarines in various regions of Yemen.
According to the State Department, the reclassification of the Houthis could result in asset freezes and travel restrictions for members of the group, but would not include sanctions against individuals who provide “financial support” to the group.
As an expression of their solidarity with Gaza stripwhich has been witnessing a devastating war since October 7, 2023, with American support, the Houthi group carried out missile attacks and marches on cargo ships in The Red Seawhich are owned or operated by Israeli companies or transport goods to and from Israel.
In response to the attacks, the US Secretary of Defense announced Lloyd Austin On December 18, an initiative was announced to form a coalition of 10 countries under the name “Guardian of Prosperity” with the aim of “deterring attacks in the Red Sea.”
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which has so far resulted in the death of 24,100 Palestinians and the injury of 60,834 others, most of them children and women. This war also caused massive destruction of infrastructure, leaving an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” according to Palestinian and international reports.
