WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has that the US is considering re-designating the Iran-backed Houthis as a terror organisation, as the UAE and other countries ramped up pressure to make the move.
Asked about US efforts to end the war in Yemen, Biden said it would be difficult. “Ending the war in Yemen takes the two parties to be involved to do; it’s going to be very difficult,” he said in response to a question from Al Arabiya.
UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba had earlier called on the White House and US legislators to support the re-designation, days after a deadly attack by the Iran-backed group killed civilians in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi was targeted on Monday when drone and missile attacks resulted in the explosion of three fuel tankers. Three people were killed and six others were wounded.
Another fire broke out in the area of the new construction site of the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Washington’s renewed diplomatic efforts came after the election of Biden last year; however, one of his first foreign policy moves saw the Houthis removed from the terror blacklist. Additionally, the Biden administration lifted senior Houthi officials’ names off the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list.
Separately, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin discussed the attacks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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