US State Department Removes Houthis from Terrorism List, Retains Leaders

Today, Friday, the US Department of State announced that it will lift the sanctions imposed on the Houthi group in Yemen and remove its name from the terrorist lists.

The statement issued by the Department revealed that leaders of the group, such as Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, and Yahya Abdul Hakim, will remain on the list of terrorism.

On the other hand, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the decision to cancel the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization begins on February 16.

He affirmed that his department will continue to monitor the destabilizing activities of the Houthis, especially in the Red  Sea, and the attacks launched on Saudi Arabia.

Last January, the former US State Department led by Mike Pompeo, said the United States will classify the Houthi group in Yemen as an international terrorist group.

Pompeo pointed then out that the department will notify Congress of the intention to classify the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

The American secretary added on Twitter that the classification aims to "hold (the Houthis) accountable for their terrorist acts, including cross-border attacks that threaten the civilian population, infrastructure, and commercial shipping."

However, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yemen and Expatriate Affairs said that the Republic of Yemen has close ties with the United States based on common interests and combating terrorism and extremist groups, and Yemen is looking forward to strengthening this relationship with the new American administration during the next phase, especially after it appointed a special envoy to our country.

The Yemeni minister went on to say that his government is confident that the United States will always stand with its allies to confront all countries and entities aimed at destabilizing global stability and spreading extremist ideology.

Last Monday, a US State Department spokesman said that Washington will continue to pressure the Houthi leadership in Yemen, stressing that Saudi Arabia is exposed to real security threats and the US will look at ways to help it.