The Department of State (DOS) recently held a meeting with senior administration officials to discuss the ongoing terrorist attacks from the Houthi group based in Yemen. DOS Secretary Antony Blinken has consistently maintained that continued Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea will not go without consequences.
The DOS news release reveals that a senior administration official from the DOS, another from the National Security Council, and one more from the Department of Treasury were present during this crucial call.
A senior official with the National Security Council stated, "Last week, U.S. military forces, together with the United Kingdom with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways." He added that despite numerous warnings and diplomatic engagement, these attacks have not ceased. The official further reported that "yesterday the Houthis launched an ASBM at a U.S.-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel, and this morning they launched one at a Greek-owned, Maltese-flagged merchant vessel. Fortunately, no one was injured and the vessel remains seaworthy."
According to a news release, Ansar Allah - commonly known as the Houthis - will once again be designated as a terrorist organization. In January 2021, Blinken announced that DOS was urgently reviewing Trump administration's designation of Yemen's Houthi movement as a terrorist organization in an effort to facilitate humanitarian aid to Yemen. This information was confirmed by Reuters.
Blinken said: "Since November, the Houthis have launched unprecedented attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as military forces positioned in the area to defend the safety and security of commercial shipping." He further noted that these attacks have endangered mariners and disrupted commerce while interfering with navigational rights and freedoms. Blinken concluded, "This designation seeks to promote accountability for the group’s terrorist activities. If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will reevaluate this designation."
