President Joe Biden has reversed the designation of the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis as a terror group, a move that has sparked both praise and criticism.
The Trump administration had designated the Houthis as a terror group, citing their violent campaigns and efforts to destabilize the region. However, Biden's administration believes that reversing the designation is necessary to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
According to a Biden official, the decision to reverse the designation was made due to the humanitarian consequences of the previous administration's action. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations had warned that the designation would worsen the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The official stated, "The designation did not impact the Houthis in any practical way, but it stopped food and other critical aid from being delivered inside Yemen and would have prevented effective political negotiation."
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy praised Biden's move, highlighting that the designation had hindered the delivery of essential aid to Yemen. He stated, "The designation did not impact the Houthis in any practical way, but it stopped food and other critical aid from being delivered inside Yemen and would have prevented effective political negotiation."
Former President Donald Trump had designated the Houthis as a foreign terror group in order to deter their alleged malign activities, particularly those supported by the Iranian regime. The designation went into effect just one day before Trump left office in January 2021. Secretary of State at the time, Mike Pompeo, defended the decision, stating, "If Ansarallah did not behave like a terrorist organization, we would not designate it as one." Pompeo also designated three Houthi leaders as terrorists.
The designation had significant implications, including preventing any of the designated individuals from entering the United States and making it illegal for Americans to provide them with material support or resources. Additionally, it made it illegal for anyone to do business with the Houthis.
The United Nations expressed its concern over the designation, warning that it could lead to a devastating famine in Yemen. UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres urged those with influence to take urgent action to prevent a catastrophe and called for measures to reduce the impact of the designation on humanitarian activities and imports into Yemen.
Former Secretary of State Pompeo acknowledged the concerns raised by the UN and stated that measures would be put in place to minimize the impact on humanitarian activities and imports into Yemen.
Biden's decision to reverse the designation of the Houthis as a terror group has sparked a debate over the best approach to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen while also addressing regional security concerns. Critics argue that the designation was necessary to deter the Houthis' alleged malign activities, while supporters believe that it hindered humanitarian efforts and effective political negotiations.
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