Yemen's Foreign Minister, Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, confirmed that the Houthi group will not retract its behavior without international pressure. In an interview with "Al Arabiya.net" on Thursday, he stated that "Washington's designation of the Houthis as a global terrorist entity represents a suitable pressure tool to force them to reconsider their terrorist behavior, renounce violence, and accept political solutions to establish peace in Yemen."
He added that "the group will not accept peaceful solutions unless they face increasing pressures that restrict their military power and challenge the funding they receive from the Iranian regime." He also deemed the recent U.S. decision a serious step to hold Houthi fighters accountable for their crimes and violations still being committed against Yemenis, stating that it "informs the world about the danger and threat posed by the militias to the security of Yemen, the region, and the world."
Regarding the impact on Yemenis, he emphasized that his country recognizes the importance of closely working with Washington and the international community to ensure that the Yemeni people are not adversely affected by the classification of the Houthis as a terrorist organization.
He noted that "the continued dependence of the Houthis on Tehran and their operations that destabilize global security and threaten navigation in important international waterways like the Red Sea necessitate a change in international priorities in dealing with these rogue militias." He called on the international community to support the Yemeni government to establish control over all Yemeni territories.
Simultaneously, the Yemeni minister did not rule out the possibility of the Houthis changing their behavior either domestically or concerning their attacks that threaten security and stability in international shipping lanes. He explained the thirty-day period for the U.S. decision to take effect as a desire from Washington to engage with international organizations in Yemen and humanitarian aid providers to ensure the mitigation of negative impacts on Yemenis. Furthermore, he confirmed that the Yemeni government is working with Washington and its international partners to spare the Yemeni people from any negative effects that might accompany the U.S. decision to redesignate the group as a global terrorist organization.
