Al-Alimi: Classifying the Houthis as a terrorist group is necessary to deter their violations and protect regional security

Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi stressed that the US classification of the Houthis as a terrorist group represents a necessary step to deter their practices, after they thwarted all efforts to end the suffering of the Yemeni people.

In an interview with the Saudi newspaper Okat, Al-Alimi expressed his hope that the militias would understand the firm message and put the interests of the Yemenis above the agenda of their supporters, stressing the Yemeni government’s commitment to mitigating the repercussions of the decision on the people, including relief and commercial interventions and expatriate remittances.

Al-Alimi pointed out that the earlier cancellation of the classification led to the Houthis escalating their terrorist attacks, exploiting the move as evidence of the weakness of the international position, which prolonged the war and exacerbated human suffering.

He added that the militias responded to the peaceful initiatives with military escalation, citing their targeting of oil export ports in Shabwa and Hadramaut, and launching attacks on international shipping lines, which further deteriorated the Yemeni economy and the government's inability to pay salaries and provide basic services.

Al-Alimi explained that the international community is required to adopt stricter policies to dry up the Houthis' sources of funding and prevent their continued threat to regional and international security, noting that the war sparked by the group has caused the deaths of more than half a million Yemenis and displaced millions inside and outside Yemen.

Al-Alimi stressed that supporting the Yemeni government and enhancing its ability to extend its influence is the most guaranteed option for achieving peace, considering that Yemen's stability is a necessity for regional and global security, and not just an internal issue.

He also criticized the Houthis' exploitation of international organizations and holding their employees hostage to blackmail the international community, holding the United Nations responsible for the continued presence of its headquarters in Sana'a, which provided the militias with an opportunity to use its employees as a bargaining chip.

Regarding the Presidential Leadership Council, Al-Alimi stressed that the anti-Houthi National Alliance has become more capable of deterrence, and that the Council is continuing its efforts to restore the state and end the coup, despite the ongoing challenges, according to him.