The State Department plans to revoke the Trump administration’s decision to label the Houthi movement in Yemen as a terrorist organization in an attempt to alleviate the country’s humanitarian crisis.
A State Department spokesman confirmed the reversal of the former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoUS plans to revoke terrorist designation for Houthi rebels. Pompeo scolds Biden’s new foreign policy. New allegations of Uighur abuse sparked UN investigation request MOREThe company’s last-minute move, which critics warned, could prevent aid from being delivered to areas under Houthi control, as hunger and a shortage of medicines devastate Yemen.
“[Secretary of State Antony] Blinken was clear about conducting a quick review of Ansarallah’s designations, given the profound implications for the people of Yemen, home to the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. After a comprehensive review, we can confirm that the secretary intends to revoke the Ansarallah Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist designations, ”said the spokesman, using another term to designate the Houthis.
“We have formally notified Congress of the secretary’s intention to revoke these designations and will share more details in the coming days,” added the spokesman. “Our action is entirely due to the humanitarian consequences of this last-minute designation from the previous government, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have since made clear that would accelerate the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”
Pompeo had placed the designation of terrorist in the Houthis on January 19, the last full day of the Trump administration, ignoring warnings that the move could restrict the movement of humanitarian aid to important parts of Yemen.
The United Nations said the civil war in Yemen between the Houthis and a Gulf coalition led by Saudi Arabia produced the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, leaving 80% of Yemenis in need. Yemeni Houthis have ties to Iran, while the United States supported its ally Riyadh in the war.
President Biden said on Thursday that the US will end support for offensive operations in the conflict. Saudi air strikes are responsible for numerous civilian casualties.
The State Department spokesman said the move “has nothing to do with our view of the Houthis and their reprehensible conduct, including attacks on civilians and kidnapping American citizens.”
“We are committed to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory against new attacks of this type,” said the person.
Biden also said this week that the United States would continue to defend Saudi Arabia against attacks.
“Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks, [drone] attacks and other threats from Iranian forces supplied in several countries, ”he said. “We will continue to support and help Saudi Arabia to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and its people.”
Blinken opened a designation review in late January, after the new government faced a pressure campaign to reverse Pompeo’s action.
“This is coming at the most difficult time, when more than 16 million Yemeni women, children and men are living in severe and worsening food insecurity,” Michelle Nunn, CEO of CARE USA, an international non-governmental organization focused on combating global poverty and hunger in the world, he told The Hill.
“This specific designation amounts to an order to cease and desist from the humanitarian response in northern Yemen and its impacts will lead to more despair and lives lost across the country,” added Nunn.