Action reverses the order issued by former President Donald Trump against the Yemeni rebel group just before he left office on January 20th.
The United States intends to reverse the terrorist designation for Yemen’s Houthi move in response to the country’s humanitarian crisis, going back on one of the last decisions criticized by the Trump administration.
The reversal, confirmed by a State Department official on Friday, comes a day after President Joe Biden suspended U.S. support for a widely seen Saudi-Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen. as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
“Our action is entirely due to the humanitarian consequences of this last-minute assignment from the pre-administration, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have since made clear would accelerate the worst humanitarian crisis. in the world, “said the official.
In a statement, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the decision.
“The… designation prevented food and other emergency aid from being delivered within Yemen and would have prevented effective political compromise,” he said.
The United Nations on Friday also welcomed Washington’s plan to repeal the U.S. terrorist designation for Yemen’s Houthi group “because it will bring great relief to the millions of Yemenis who rely on humanitarian aid and commercial imports to survive basic to achieve their “, said DA Stephane Dujarric.
Just days before his term ended in office on January 20, then U.S. President Donald Trump described the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” – effectively preventing U.S. citizens and entities from interacting financially with the organization.
The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80 percent of its 24 million people in need, and warned the Trump administration that the assignment would push millions in Yemen to a great famine.
A State Department official has also stressed the latest action “has nothing to do” with the U.S. view of the Houthis and their “remorseful behavior,” and reiterated Washington’s commitment to helping Saudi Arabia to defend its territory against such attacks.
The Trump administration exempted aid agencies, the United Nations, the Red Cross and exports of agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices from the designation, but UN officials and aid agencies said the carved images were insufficient. and demanded that the decision be revoked.
The Yemeni civil war sets the internationally recognized government against the Houthi movement linked to Iran.
The United Nations estimates that 80 percent of the 24 million people in Yemen are in need as a result of Saudi-led work in the country [File: Ali Owidha/Reuters]
Iran’s ambassador to Yemen responded with suspicion of the U.S. government’s move.
The US is a big demon & we are not optimistic about what they say Certainly the new government has a different policy towards Yemen than before. We should hope to the God & people of Yemen that they were opposed to history and stability and will continue to prevail
– Hasan Irlu (@ HasanIrlu1) February 5, 2021
The Yemeni conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including large numbers of civilians, and created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
A Saudi-led coalition joined the government in March 2015 and enjoyed the support of the Trump administration, with the war escalating as a proxy conflict between the US and Iran.
But the growing number of civilian deaths and the growing humanitarian crisis prompted bipartisan calls to end U.S. support for Riyadh.
The Human Rights Guard said in its 2021 World Report published in January that the parties to the Yemeni military conflict continued to violate war laws in 2020, including the commission of new war crimes .
HRW said the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as Houthi forces, launched mortars, rockets and missiles into densely populated areas.