(TheRedAlertNews.com) – On Friday, Joe Biden addressed the Houthi movement, referring to them as “terrorists.”
However, in what many on both sides of the political aisle believe is a failure, he has not officially classified the Iranian-allied militants as a terror group, stating that such a distinction was “irrelevant.”
This statement came shortly after Biden authorized airstrikes against Yemen. This military action was in retaliation to Houthi assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
During a visit to small businesses in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a reporter questioned the President, who is 81 years old, about his stance on labeling the Houthis as a terrorist group.
“Are you willing to call the Houthis a terrorist group, sir?” asked the journalist. Biden responded affirmatively, saying, “I think they are.”
Yet later, in another conversation with the press, Biden downplayed the importance of an official terror designation.
This all followed a combined military attack by the US and UK, which, according to Houthi leaders, resulted in five casualties.
The attack also led to a significant anti-American demonstration in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.
A wire reporter inquired, “A few minutes ago at the coffee shop, you said you think the Houthis are a terrorist group. I’m wondering, how soon are you willing to designate them as such?”
Biden replied, “It’s irrelevant whether we designate them. We’ve pieced together a group of nations, and we’re going to say if they continue to act and behave as they do, we’ll respond.”
Significantly, in February 2021, it was Biden’s administration that removed the Houthi movement from the list of terrorist groups.
This action reversed the Trump administration’s policy, which had only initiated the designation in the last days of its term in January of the same year.
The group’s designation as a terrorist organization would result in severe sanctions against anyone engaging in transactions with the group.
