The Biden administration is expected to soon announce plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the White House decision and a U.S. official.

The move comes as the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The group says it has attacked the ships in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The three people familiar with the decision were not authorized to comment and requested anonymity to discuss the matter ahead of the expected formal announcement.

  • gmtom@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Am I the only one that dislikes them being called “the houthis”? The group is called “Ansar allah” the housis are an ethnic tribe in Yemen. The two are not interchangeable.

    • BrokebackHampton@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      It’s a concerted effort by western media to delegitimize them through language. I’ve often heard “Houthi rebels” which makes the intention very clear. Ansar Allah is the proper name like you said, and not only were they the de facto government of Yemen before, but also the recent US/UK bombing campaign is making more and more Yemenis unite behind Ansar Allah.

    • mathemachristian[he]@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      Nope, its the same Palestinian = hamas bs that allows them to label everyone enemies and only differentiate between “combatants” and “noncombatants”