The United States recently reinstated the terrorist designation for Yemen’s Huthis, who now claimed responsibility for an assault on an American vessel, the Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the reclassification of the Huthis, also known as Ansarallah, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, which will be effective 30 days from its announcement, which will impact the Huthis by restricting their access to financial resources and support networks.
Despite the move by the US, the Huthis remain undeterred and openly accepted responsibility for the recent attack, employing missiles against the American ship.
Huthis claims that the act of defiance is linked to their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel. The Huthis have expressed their intent to continue targeting ships they associate with Israel or those heading towards what they refer to as occupied Palestinian territories.
In light of these developments, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan highlighted the importance of the terrorist designation as a strategic tool. It aims to limit the Huthis’ financial capabilities and curb terrorist funding. Sullivan also noted that the US is open to reconsidering this designation, provided the Huthis cease their maritime attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The US and the UK have been actively applying military and diplomatic pressure on the Huthis. This includes direct actions like the destruction of anti-ship missiles in Yemen and airstrikes on locations controlled by the Huthis. Additionally, there is a push for forming an international coalition dedicated to protecting shipping routes from Huthi insurgent attacks.
The reinstatement of the terrorist designation for the Huthis marks a shift from the earlier stance of the Biden administration. In 2021, the administration had removed this label, responding to concerns raised by aid groups. These groups argued that the terrorist designation was impeding humanitarian efforts in Yemen, a country already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis.
The US administration now asserts that this renewed designation will not hamper humanitarian efforts. Instead, they believe it offers more flexibility in ensuring the well-being of Yemeni civilians and effectively delivering humanitarian aid in the region.
