WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden s administration will quicklyrevisit the designation of Yemen s Huthi rebels as terrorists and endsupport to the devastating Saudi offensive on the country, his pick forsecretary of state, Antony Blinken, said Tuesday.
At his confirmation hearing, Blinken said he would “immediately” review theoutgoing Trump administration s labeling of the Iranian-linked insurgents,fearing the move was worsening a humanitarian crisis.
“At least on its surface, (the designation) seems to achieve nothingparticularly practical in advancing the efforts against the Huthis and tobring them back to the negotiating table while making it even moredifficult than it already is to provide humanitarian assistance to peoplewho desperately need it,” Blinken told the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee.
Donald Trump s administration announced the move on January 11, nine daysbefore Biden takes over on Wednesday.
Trump has been a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia, offering US logistical helpand military sales for its more than six-year campaign to dislodge therebels who have taken over much of the country.
Blinken said that the Saudis have “contributed to what is by most accountsthe worst humanitarian situation anywhere in the world.”
“The Huthis bear significant responsibility for what s happened in Yemen,but the way the campaign has been conducted has also contributedsignificantly to that situation. And so our support should end,” Blinkensaid.
– Warnings from Huthis –
The United Nations and aid groups have warned the terrorist designationrisks worsening the plight of a country where millions depend on aid tosurvive.
The designation took effect Tuesday, with the Huthis warning they wouldrespond to any action against them.
“We are ready to take all necessary measures against any hostile act,” theysaid in a statement.
The designation is expected to halt many transactions with Huthiauthorities, including bank transfers and payments to medical personnel andfor food and fuel, due to fears of US prosecution.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres,called on the United States to reverse the move.
“Our position on this has not changed,” Dujarric said. “We call on thegovernment to reverse that decision.”
“Our concern from the beginning, that we expressed very clearly, is theimpact on the commercial sector,” he said.
“The vast majority of food and other basic supplies that comes into Yemencomes in through the commercial sector.”
Outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in announcing the designation,pointed to an attack on the airport on Yemen s second city Aden in lateDecember that apparently targeted Yemen s new government.
Blinken said the United States remained “clear-eyed about the Huthis.”
“They overthrew a government in Yemen, they engaged in a path of aggressionthrough the country, they directed aggression toward Saudi Arabia andcommitted atrocities and human rights abuses,” he said. “And that is afact.”
But he said that efforts by Pompeo to exempt aid groups were insufficientas they concerned US rather than international groups.
Aid groups fear that they will face legal problems in the United States byinteracting with the Huthis, which they say is unavoidable as they are thede facto government in much of Yemen. APP/AFP