In a recent development, Democratic New York Representative Ritchie Torres' appeal to the State Department to reclassify the Houthi as a foreign terrorist organization was dismissed, as revealed in a letter procured by Jewish Insider.
The State Department's response, issued on Tuesday, was in reply to Torres' letter dated July 19. It suggested that such a reclassification could potentially create complications for civilians in Yemen.
According to the Daily Caller, the State Department's letter stated, "As Secretary Blinken has said, the Houthis must be held accountable for their actions in the Red Sea and beyond. At the same time, it is important that the United States avoids harming and alienating Yemeni civilians." The letter further explained the Houthis' control over ports and distribution access, emphasizing that a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation could significantly impact food security and the basic needs of the population. This is due to the fact that approximately 90% of products to meet basic needs in Yemen are commercially imported.
The government expressed its view that the current classification of the organization "as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)" is adequate to promote the administrations "priorities." In his July 19 letter, Torres had urged the government to re-list the Houthis as an FTO and questioned why the administration had not done so already. It's worth noting that President Biden reversed former President Donald Trumps order to list the Houthis as an FTO shortly after assuming office, a decision implemented by the State Department on February 12, 2021.
The Daily Caller attempted to contact Rep. Torres office for a comment but has yet to receive a response. Meanwhile, the Houthis have been launching attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November in solidarity with Hamas, the terror organization responsible for the October 7 attack. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reported that by February, the Houthis had managed to decrease shipping through the maritime channel by 90%. The DIA report stated, "Houthi actions have damaged regional security, impeded international humanitarian relief efforts, and put stress on global maritime trade."
In response to the Yemeni terrorists actions, the U.S. and its allies initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian to weaken the Houthis ability to blockade shipping. A senior Houthi official claimed that the U.S. proposed to recognize their authority in Yemen if they halted their strikes, as reported by Reuters. However, a U.S. official refuted the existence of such an offer to the news outlet.
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