The United States has once again designated the Houthi rebels as terrorists due to their involvement in attacks in the Red Sea region.
The Biden government announced on Wednesday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been classified as a “specially designated global terrorist group” (SDGT). This decision has been made amidst the activities of the militia.continuing attacks
attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.
announcement made by the previous administration and marks a significant shift in US foreign policy.
The State Department and White House have announced a reversal of a previous administration’s decision, resulting in a major change in US foreign policy.earlier decision
In February 2021, the State Department removed the SDGT designation.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, released a statement saying that the United States has designated Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This decision was made in response to ongoing threats and attacks. The designation will help hinder the Houthis’ ability to receive terrorist funding, limit their access to financial markets, and make them responsible for their actions.
These measures were utilized during the last days of the Trump presidency.Iran-backed group
The group, who holds significant territories in Yemen and has been involved in a prolonged internal conflict against the officially recognized Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia.
In 2021, a representative from the State Department informed CBS News that the decision was made based on the humanitarian impacts of the last-minute designation by the previous administration. This action was later confirmed by the United Nations and humanitarian groups as exacerbating the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world.
The SDGT label and FTO label have different effects on the ability to provide humanitarian aid. Supporting a designated group can result in sanctions under the FTO label, but not necessarily under the SDGT label.
During a conversation with journalists, a high-ranking government representative stated that the SDGT designation allows for more flexibility in achieving our goals, specifically protecting humanitarian aid and the overall welfare of the Yemeni people, while also addressing the Houthis’ unacceptable acts of terrorism.
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After the Palestinian militant organization, Hamas, launched an attack on Israel on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and triggering the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthi rebels have carried out numerous drone and missile strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea. They claim to be doing so in solidarity with the Palestinians.
On January 12, when questioned by journalists about the Houthis’ status as a terrorist organization, President Biden stated, “I believe they are.”
Mr. Biden’s comments came
On the identical day.
American and British military, along with assistance from Bahrain, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, initiated their initial wave of attacks on numerous Houthi locations in Yemen. Leaders from the United States, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been cautioning about potential outcomes for the rebels for several weeks. They have also emphasized the importance of avoiding an escalation of the Gaza conflict throughout the Middle East.
On Monday, the Houthis continued their attacks by firing a ballistic missile
A container ship owned and operated by the United States was involved. Fortunately, there were no significant injuries or damages.
On Tuesday, officials from the United States stated that they took action in advance to attack and destroy anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being readied for launch from areas in Yemen under Houthi control. The armed group then went on to attack a merchant ship, resulting in damage but no reported injuries.
“We predicted that the Houthis would likely retaliate after our attack on Friday evening,” Kirby stated to journalists on Tuesday, discussing the Jan. 12 mission. “We believe that our strikes were successful in disrupting and weakening their ability to carry out offensive military actions.”
Due to the attacks, certain shipping companies have been compelled to steer clear of the Red Sea, resulting in global repercussions.shipping disruptions.
stated that there is no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia
The White House has consistently declared that there is no proof of collaboration between the Trump campaign and Russia.accused
Iran has been accused of being involved in the attacks on the Houthis in the Red Sea, but Tehran has denied these allegations.
it had found an estimated 50,000 new cases of COVID-19.
The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that they discovered approximately 50,000 additional cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. of
It captured a large amount of boat cargo. of “advanced conventional weapons” sent from Iran to the Houthis.
Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla of U.S. Central Command stated that this is proof that Iran is still supplying the Houthis with advanced weapons that can cause harm.
This report was contributed to by Eleanor Watson, Haley Ott, and Tucker Reals.
Source: cbsnews.com