Blinken said in a statement that the decision to remove the group’s FTO designation as well as the specially designated global terror designation was driven by concerns, calling it “a recognition of the serious humanitarian situation in Yemen.”
“We have warned, among others, the United Nations, humanitarian groups and dual members of Congress that the designations could have a devastating effect on the Yemenis’ access to basic products such as food and fuel,” he said on Friday. “The recalls are aimed at ensuring that relevant US policies do not hinder aid to those who are already suffering from the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. By focusing on alleviating the humanitarian situation in Yemen, we hope that the Yemeni parties will also can focus on engaging in dialogue. “
Blinken’s announcement comes after the Houthis launched a series of attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, which were condemned by the State Department this week.
The top US diplomat noted in his statement that Houthi leaders Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim remain under sanction.
‘The United States remains vigilant about Ansarallah’s malicious actions and aggression, including the control of large areas of Yemen by force, the attack on US partners in the Gulf, the abduction and torture of US citizens and many of our allies, diversion of humanitarian aid aid, brutally oppressed Yemenis in areas they control, and the deadly attack on December 30, 2020 in Aden against the cabinet of Yemen’s legitimate government, ‘he said, using a different name for the Houthi.
Yemen is embroiled in a long-running civil war that backed a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, a Shiite political and military organization from northern Yemen. The conflict cost thousands of civilian lives and plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis.
“The United States will redouble its efforts, along with the United Nations and others, to end the war itself. We reaffirm our strong belief that there is no military solution to this conflict,” Blinken said on Friday. “We call on all parties to work for a lasting political solution, which is the only way to end the humanitarian crisis plaguing the Yemeni people permanently.”