President Joe Biden on Friday called the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels a terrorist group, despite removing them from the State Department's list of terrorist groups in 2021.
Biden on Thursday ordered a military strike against Yemen's Houthis after they launched at least 27 attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
“Are you calling the Houthis a terrorist group?” a reporter asked Biden on Friday as he toured a small business in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The president replied, “I think so.”
Reporter: “Are you willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group?”
Biden: “I think so.”
(Biden *removes* terrorist designation for Houthis in 2021) pic.twitter.com/k3OYkxloYy
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 12, 2024
Former President Donald Trump's administration listed Houthi rebels; Also known as Ansar Allah, or “Followers of God,” was declared a terrorist organization shortly before leaving office in January 2021. The following month, the Biden administration reversed that decision.
“Secretary” [of State Antony] “Given the grave impact on the people of Yemen, home to the world's worst humanitarian disaster, Mr. Blinken has been clear that he will undertake an expedited review of the Ansarala designation,” State Department officials said in a statement on February 2, 2021. He confirmed this to NBC News in May. As a result of our investigation, we have confirmed that the Secretary intends to revoke Ansarala's designation as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist organization. ”
The Houthis have been fighting the Yemeni government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, since 2014.united nations Reported in March 2023 It said 4.5 million Yemenis have been displaced and 21.6 million people, or two-thirds of the population, are in “urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection services”.
The Biden administration had considered adding the Houthis back to the list in November 2023 after they escalated attacks and seized a cargo ship. (Related: Shipping giant suspends Red Sea trade even as US Navy defends against Houthi attack)
US forces, led by a coalition that includes Britain, Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, attacked “numerous targets” in Yemen on Thursday.
“These attacks are a direct response to the unprecedented Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, including the first-ever use of anti-ship ballistic missiles,” Biden said in a written statement Thursday night. said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the attack on the Houthis on Thursday from his hospital bed at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. according to Go to Business Insider. Mr. Austin was hospitalized on January 1, but he did not notify the White House or Congress. Days after telling Biden that he was hospitalized, it was revealed that Austin had a urinary tract infection and had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“These targeted attacks demonstrate that the United States and our partners are condoning attacks on our personnel and that hostile forces threaten freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital commercial shipping lanes,” Biden said in a statement. This is a clear message that we will not tolerate this.”
“I will not hesitate to direct further measures as necessary to protect our people and the freedom of international commerce,” he added.
