Sen. Tom Cotton criticized the Biden administration’s offer to reverse the designation of the Houthi rebels as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group in exchange for an end to attacks against Red Sea shipping vessels. U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking expressed hope for diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the situation and eventually remove the designation of the Houthis. The international community, including the P5 countries, is committed to supporting peace efforts in Yemen. The State Department emphasized that the designation is necessary to pressure the Houthis and prevent them from carrying out terrorist activities.
A top Air Force commander for the Middle East suggested that the pace of attacks by the Houthis may be slowing, indicating that they may be running out of supplies of drone swarms and anti-ship ballistic missiles. The Biden administration’s decision to reverse the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization in order to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen was met with criticism. The administration subsequently relisted the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group after they continued their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The U.S. and the U.K. condemned the attacks as acts of terrorism and a threat to global commerce and humanitarian efforts. The Treasury Department announced the issuance of counterterrorism general licenses in response to the change in the Houthis’ status.
Former National Security Council official Richard Goldberg criticized the decision to reverse the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization, calling it a “bait and switch” tactic. He suggested that the Biden administration’s reluctance to impose Foreign Terrorist Organization status on the Houthis was due to a desire to legitimize them and include them in the governing structure of Yemen. The administration’s approach of issuing counterterrorism general licenses to mitigate the impact of the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designation was seen as a way to avoid maximum pressure on the group. The administration’s goal was to convince the Houthis to de-escalate and change their behavior through the use of sanctions.
The State Department emphasized that the goal of imposing sanctions on the Houthis was to deter their terrorist activities and protect vulnerable Yemeni civilians. The department sought to deny the Houthis the resources needed to carry out missile and drone attacks on international shipping vessels. The international community, including key players like Russia, China, France, and the U.K., was united in supporting efforts to achieve peace in Yemen. The administration’s decision-making process regarding the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group was carefully considered and aimed at finding diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Despite criticism from Senator Cotton and others, the Biden administration remained committed to its approach of using sanctions and other measures to pressure the Houthis into changing their behavior. The administration’s decision to reverse and subsequently relist the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization was part of a broader strategy to address the conflict in Yemen and protect the interests of the United States and its allies. The administration’s reliance on diplomatic efforts and international cooperation to achieve peace in Yemen reflected a commitment to resolving the crisis through political means.
