Biden now designates Houthis as ‘terrorists’ after reversing Trump’s label
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
3:00 PM – Monday, January 15, 2024
United States President Joe Biden declared that Yemen’s Houthi rebels are indeed a “terrorist” group following a series of airstrikes carried out by American and British forces in Yemen.
Last Friday, President Biden acknowledged that the Iran-backed Houthis are a “terrorist” organization, reversing the previous administration’s decision to remove their terrorist designation.
A reporter asked Biden if he would classify the Houthis as a “terrorist” group.
“Are you willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group, sir?” the reporter asked.
In response, the president said, “I think they are.”
In February 2021, Biden revoked the terrorist designation, arguing that it would hinder negotiations and harm civilians in Yemen. However, former Trump Pentagon Chief of Staff Kash Patel emphasized the importance of labeling the Houthis as terrorists to cut off their funding and prevent further attacks.
“So you shut them down financially and you are able [to] target them as terrorists. And then if they meet the threshold, you’re able to take out their leadership — people who are actually terrorists,” Patel said.
“When you remove the designation, like the Biden administration did, you allow them access to the global banking system, you allow them to travel freely, you allow them to engage in business with our allies,” he added. “So you allow them to get money, get funded. You allow Iran to pay them, and we don’t have a recourse. Since they’re not a designated terrorist organization, operationally and intelligence-wise, they’re not a priority to take out, they’re not a priority for intelligence collection purposes.”
The Houthis have been relentlessly attacking international commercial warships and U.S. military targets in the Red Sea, firing missiles and deploying drones. In response, Biden ordered strikes against their targets and pledged further action if necessary, with over 150 weapons fired at 16 different locations, according to the Pentagon.
The Houthis reported five deaths and six severe injuries as a result of the strikes.
When asked if the U.S. will continue to retaliate if the Houthi attacks persist, Biden stated, “We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior, along with our allies.”
During the conversation, another reporter asked Biden about the timing of designating the Houthis as “terrorists.”
The reporter asked, “How soon are you willing to designate them as such?”
Biden responded by stating that it was ”irrelevant.”
“It’s irrelevant whether they’re designated. We’ve put together a group of nations that are going to say that if they continue to act and behave as they do, we’ll respond,” the president said.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden visits the Hawkeye State to show his unwavering support for Donald Trump ahead of the Iowa caucus.
State Representative Brooke Boden expresses her district’s readiness to back Trump during the Iowa caucus.
President Trump rallies support in the Hawkeye State before the caucuses, receiving an endorsement from a former rival.
Two individuals are arrested in connection with a 1989 cold case involving the murder of a five-year-old boy. One America’s Katie Smith has the story.
Google faces a federal jury trial in Boston over allegations that its processors infringe on a computer scientist’s patents.
OpenAI and Microsoft are sued in Manhattan federal court by two nonfiction authors who claim their work was misused to train AI models.
SpaceX files a lawsuit against a U.S. labor board to block allegations of illegal employee terminations, calling CEO Elon Musk “a distraction and embarrassment.”
ChatGPT gains popularity even before 2023, becoming a household name.
rnrn
How does the change in designation reflect the Biden administration’s approach towards addressing the threat posed by the Houthi rebels, and what are the potential implications for the United States’ relationship with Yemen
United States President Joe Biden has declared Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “terrorist” group following a series of airstrikes conducted by American and British forces in Yemen. This declaration reverses the previous administration’s decision to remove their terrorist designation.
In February 2021, President Biden revoked the terrorist designation, stating that it would hinder negotiations and harm civilians in Yemen. However, the former Trump Pentagon Chief of Staff Kash Patel highlighted the importance of labeling the Houthis as terrorists to cut off their funding and prevent further attacks.
By removing the terrorist designation, the Biden administration allowed the Houthis access to the global banking system, freedom of travel, and the ability to engage in business with allies. This, in turn, enables them to acquire funding and support from Iran, without any recourse or priority for intelligence collection purposes.
The Houthis have been resorting to relentless attacks on international commercial warships and U.S. military targets in the Red Sea. They have been firing missiles and deploying drones, prompting the Biden administration to order strikes against their targets. Over 150 weapons were fired at 16 different locations, resulting in five deaths and six severe injuries reported by the Houthis.
When questioned about the U.S.’s intentions to retaliate if Houthi attacks persist, President Biden affirmed that they would respond to their outrageous behavior in collaboration with allies.
The timing of designating the Houthis as terrorists was questioned by reporters during a conversation with President Biden. However, he deemed it irrelevant, emphasizing that a group of nations has come together to address the Houthi’s actions and respond accordingly.
It is evident that the change in designation signifies a shift in approach towards the Houthis and their actions. The Biden administration recognizes the threat posed by the group and their involvement in attacks, thus altering their stance to tackle the issue effectively. Moving forward, it remains to be seen how this declaration will shape the dynamics between the United States and Yemen.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...