The Booty Report

News and Updates for Swashbucklers Everywhere

Arr, Biden's crew be fixin' to mark Yemen's scurvy Iran-aided Houthis as cursed terrorists, amidst Red Sea plunderin'!

2024-01-16

Arr, methinks the Biden crew be plannin' to dub them Yemen scoundrels, the Houthis, as a band of miscreants, and brand 'em as a crew o' terrorists! All because they've been causin' trouble fer ships sailin' the Red Sea. Har, the adventure continues!

The Biden administration is expected to re-designate Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis as a terrorist group after they were removed from the Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list in 2021. This decision comes as a response to the Houthis' recent attacks in the Red Sea. While it is unclear if they will receive the same designation as before, there are several sanction options that can be used in place of a formal FTO finding.

The Houthis have been launching numerous attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming that they are retaliating against Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip. They have even launched anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these attacks.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had delisted the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and as specially designated global terrorists in February 2021. This was done to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Yemen. This move was a reversal of former President Trump's decision to place the Houthis on the FTO list, which was met with strong objections from human rights and humanitarian aid groups.

The recent attacks by the Houthis have caused disruptions in global shipping, with thousands of ships being forced to divert from the Red Sea since November. Houthi militants have also threatened or taken hostages from over 20 countries.

In response to the attacks, U.S. forces have conducted strikes against Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles in Yemen. The Biden administration is also concerned about the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas potentially leading to a regional conflict.

In conclusion, the Biden administration is expected to re-designate the Houthis as a terrorist group due to their recent attacks in the Red Sea. This decision aims to address the disruptions in global shipping caused by the Houthis and ensure the safety of mariners from various countries.

Read the Original Article