2024-01-17 18:51:45
Amid the attacks on merchant ships by Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the US counterattack intensifying, the US redesignated the Houthi rebels as international terrorists (SDGT) on the 17th (local time).
This is a measure aimed at cutting off the pro-Iran Houthi rebels’ funding stream and putting pressure on them to stop further attacks.
Previously, the Trump administration designated the Houthi rebels as a SDGT and a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), taking responsibility for the bombing of Aden Airport in southern Yemen in January 2021.
However, the Biden administration lifted the ban on Houthi rebels following a month due to concerns from some that doing so would make it difficult for the UN and aid organizations to provide relief goods to Yemeni residents.
Previously, a senior official in the Biden administration mentioned the recent case in which Houthi rebels attacked civilian merchant ships and U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at a briefing the previous day and said, “Such attacks are typical of terrorism.”
If designated as SDGT, all assets in the United States are frozen and transactions with Americans are prohibited. Additionally, individuals and organizations under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government cannot provide ‘material support or support’ to the FTO.
When the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October last year, the Houthi rebels publicly declared their support for Hamas and began attacking civilian ships in the Red Sea in November. On the 16th, a missile attack was carried out on a Greek cargo ship on its way to Israel.
The U.S.’s re-designation of SDGT once morest the Houthi rebels will take effect in one month. The United States’ position is that it may consider lifting the SDGT if the Houthis stop their attacks.
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