US President Joe Biden's administration is moving to revoke the terrorist designation of Yemen's Houthis, undoing a move by former president Donald Trump. He said the step is needed to mitigate one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Branding the Iranian-backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation, limited the provision of aid to the beleaguered Yemeni people, who have over the years suffered due to civil war and famine. The civil war that has lasted for six years has also tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Biden, on Thursday, announced his decision to end all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales and stepping up diplomacy to boost the effort.
An official told AP that removal of terrorist designation doesn't change Biden administration's views of the Houthis, who have targetted civilians and kidnapped Americans. Biden, on Thursday, has also said that the US will continue to support and help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and people against any attack from the Houthis.
“We welcome the stated intention by the US administration to revoke the designation as it will provide profound relief to millions of Yemenis who rely on humanitarian assistance and commercial imports to meet their basic survival needs,” A UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric told The Guardian.
The Houthis have launched multiple drones and missile strikes deep into Saudi Arabia. While being designated terrorists did not impact the Houthis, it stopped food and other critical aid from being delivered inside Yemen and would have prevented effective political negotiation. The Trump administration had however exempted organisations such as the UN, Red Cross to provide relief to the region and allowed agricultural commodities, medicines and medical devices to be exported.
