The United States has again designated the Houthis as “terrorists” after attacks in the Red Sea.

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This Wednesday, January 17, the United States government decided to designate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “global terrorist” group, in order to block the financing and weapons used by this movement to attack or hijack ships. The supply can be cut. Crucial Red Sea shipping route, US officials explained.

The Houthis claim they are acting as a sign of support for Hamas amid the ongoing war in Gaza against US-backed Israeli forces.

These attacks are the textbook definition of terrorism

Joe Biden’s government specified that the designation, along with the sanction measures included, would come into effect in 30 days. That means 16th February. However, he indicated that he was willing to reconsider the decision if the attacks stopped.

Washington reported that the United States has been granted a 30-day period to implement sanctions and prepare a plan to mitigate the impact on Yemen’s civilian population.

“These attacks are the textbook definition of terrorism,” declared one of the US officials, who stressed that his country’s goal is to end attacks in the Red Sea, given their impact on international trade.

What does the designation include?

remedy Wants to “cut off funding” to the Houthis in the international financial systemHighlights the Biden administration.

However, the United States has indicated that it intends to prevent these measures from having a significant impact on Yemeni civilians or preventing the entry of food, medical, or humanitarian aid into Houthi-controlled areas.

For this reason, the US government classified the group as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” rather than adding it to the “Foreign Terrorist Organization” list. Thus, the restrictions are mild and do not include, for example, travel bans.

The Houthi attacks have disrupted global trade and raised fears that the fallout from a war between Israeli forces and Hamas would destabilize the Middle East.

With EFE and Reuters