The Take

Why Yemen’s Houthis spent 29 days on a US ‘terror’ list

What does revoking the US ‘terrorist’ designation mean for aid to Yemen?

In this Jan. 25, 2021 photo, Houthi supporters chant slogans as they attend a demonstration against the United States over its decision to designate the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization in Sanaa, Yemen. President Joe Biden is distancing himself from Saudi Arabia's rulers over their war in Yemen and rights abuses. That includes Biden announcing Feb. 4, 2021, he would make good on a campaign pledge to cut U.S. support for a five-year Saudi-led military campaign in neighboring Yemen. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (AP Photo)

Designating Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “foreign terrorist organization” was one of the last foreign policy decisions of the Trump administration. It was a move that many aid agencies feared would push the worst humanitarian crisis in the world into further chaos. Now, weeks later, the new administration under President Joe Biden has walked it back. So just how big a shift is this for US policy towards Yemen, and what does it mean for Yemen’s war?

In this episode:

Abubakr Al-Shamahi, journalist; Sultana Begum, Norwegian Refugee Council

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The team:

Alexandra Locke, produced this episode with Amy Walters, Dina Kesbeh, Negin Owliaei, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez and Malika Bilal.

Alex Roldan was the sound designer. Natalia Aldana is the engagement producer. Stacey Samuel is The Take’s executive producer.

Source: Al Jazeera