Houthis Bomb Civilian Airport Days After Biden Removes Terrorist Designation

Iranian-backed Houthi militants bombed a civilian airport on Wednesday, just days after the Biden administration lifted the group’s terrorist designation.

The drone strike from the group targeted Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia, setting one plane on fire. Arab Coalition forces later intercepted and destroyed the two drones, according to Saudi state media. The attack came as the Biden administration’s special envoy to Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, arrived in Riyadh to conduct several meetings with Yemeni and Saudi officials.

The Biden administration removed a Trump administration terrorist designation from the Houthi movement last Friday. The Houthi movement began in Yemen in 1994, emerging with a strong anti-Zionist bent. Houthi leadership has called for cooperation with Hezbollah in future wars against Israel, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in 2019 that Iran has sought ways to launch missiles at Israel from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

In a press briefing Wednesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the bombing would not change the administration’s course on lifting the terror designation.

“We are committed to working with our partner Saudi Arabia,” Price said. “We can ensure that we are not adding to the already substantial suffering of the Yemeni people … while we continue to hold the Houthis to account.”

Price did not say what actions would be taken to hold them accountable.

The Biden administration, however, pivoted away from Saudi Arabia last week, declaring the end of America’s military support for operations against the Houthis.

“There is no military solution when it comes to the conflict in Yemen,” Price said.