With increasing tensions in the Middle East, the United States has declared the Houthi a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The Houthi, an Iranian-backed militia group, have been mostly active in the civil war in Yemen, a small country located in the Arabian Peninsula. For the past five years, they have been engaged in a conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and is destabilizing the region.
The Biden-Blinken Administration has made clear their stance on the Houthi’s designation as an FTO, and how they will aim to combat their activities. On the diplomatic front, there are plans to increase pressure on the Tehran regime and to work with regional and international partners to seek a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. It is essential that U.S. officials and other countries agree on unified and coordinated policies in order to de-escalate the situation.
The Biden-Blinken team are further taking steps to strengthen U.S. and international efforts to deny the Houthi resources and capacity. This is being done through a package of sanctions, including those targeting the militants’ finances and access to military hardware and illicit activity, that are being imposed unilaterally as well as through international institutions such as the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force (FATF). These sanctions are meant to weaken the Houthi’s capabilities and drive them towards the negotiating table.
The Administration is also continuing to support humanitarian assistance efforts for the innocent civilians affected by the war. Since the conflict in Yemen broke out in 2015, the United States has provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian aid. This assistance, in addition to efforts by the UN, has been crucial in providing food and other vital services to millions of Yemeni civilians.
The Biden-Blinken team have made it clear that they are committed to addressing the threat posed by the Houthi’s FTO designation. Through unilateral and collective action, the administration is aiming to deny the militants resources, hold them accountable for their actions, and find a political solution that will stop the violence in Yemen. Such a coordinated approach is necessary to bring a much-needed end to this horrific conflict.
With increasing tensions in the Middle East, the United States has declared the Houthi a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The Houthi, an Iranian-backed militia group, have been mostly active in the civil war in Yemen, a small country located in the Arabian Peninsula. For the past five years, they have been engaged in a conflict with the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and is destabilizing the region.
The Biden-Blinken Administration has made clear their stance on the Houthi’s designation as an FTO, and how they will aim to combat their activities. On the diplomatic front, there are plans to increase pressure on the Tehran regime and to work with regional and international partners to seek a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. It is essential that U.S. officials and other countries agree on unified and coordinated policies in order to de-escalate the situation.
The Biden-Blinken team are further taking steps to strengthen U.S. and international efforts to deny the Houthi resources and capacity. This is being done through a package of sanctions, including those targeting the militants’ finances and access to military hardware and illicit activity, that are being imposed unilaterally as well as through international institutions such as the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force (FATF). These sanctions are meant to weaken the Houthi’s capabilities and drive them towards the negotiating table.
The Administration is also continuing to support humanitarian assistance efforts for the innocent civilians affected by the war. Since the conflict in Yemen broke out in 2015, the United States has provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian aid. This assistance, in addition to efforts by the UN, has been crucial in providing food and other vital services to millions of Yemeni civilians.
The Biden-Blinken team have made it clear that they are committed to addressing the threat posed by the Houthi’s FTO designation. Through unilateral and collective action, the administration is aiming to deny the militants resources, hold them accountable for their actions, and find a political solution that will stop the violence in Yemen. Such a coordinated approach is necessary to bring a much-needed end to this horrific conflict.
