The pressure from the Trump administration to label the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen as a terrorist organization would be “very damaging” to US national security, say former US diplomats and State Department officials.
In a letter to the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
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They are raising the alarm that such a move would be considered politically motivated and “undermine the credibility of US anti-terrorism programs and policies.”
“To be clear, we have no sympathy for the Houthi movement, nor do we condone its actions,” the signatories wrote, including nearly every living former US ambassador to Yemen, former counter-terrorism coordinators at the State Department and former senior career officials of both Republican and Democratic governments.
“That said, we do not believe the Houthi movement meets the definition of a foreign terrorist organization, nor do we believe the designation will further US national security interests.”
The Trump administration is reportedly considering appointing the insurgent military group involved in a six-year civil war against the Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Such a move would be part of the government’s “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran. President Trump
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The signatories argue that the designation would hinder the efforts of the international community to provide life-saving aid to the country experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in history, including providing food and medicine to at least 70 percent of the Houthi population of Yemen. -check.
They also warn that it would hurt international efforts to find a political solution to the crisis.
“We urge the government not to take this step, which we believe would do great damage to US national security interests, including the fight against terrorism, and especially to innocent civilians in Yemen,” the signatories wrote.
“Instead, we encourage the government to redouble its support for the UN-led peace process. US support could provide a critical impetus to efforts to persuade the parties to end the fighting, introduce a permanent, lasting ceasefire and begin the political reconciliation that will enable Yemenis finally address the root causes of the current conflict. “
The crisis in Yemen is one of the darkest spots on the international community, with UN officials noted earlier this month that atrocities there could amount to war crimes.
The United Nations Humanitarian Office said on December 3 that at least 230,000 Yemenis have died as a result of the war, including 131,000 from a lack of food, health services and infrastructure. In the first nine months of 2020, more than 3,000 children died and 1,500 civilian casualties.
On December 11, World Food Program spokesman Tomson Phiri called the country “a ticking time bomb” with 16 million people unable to get food.