On Wednesday's “PBS News Hour,” U.S. special envoy to Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, discussed the Biden administration's decision to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization, and Biden's decision to remove the terrorist organization designation from the Houthis on the first day of the Biden administration. He defended the government's decision. The goal is to focus on Yemen, which has a ceasefire and allows humanitarian aid to enter the country, the government said.
asked NewsHour foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Shiffrin.[W]Wasn't it a mistake for the Biden administration to exclude the Houthis on both counts, literally on the first day of the administration? ”
Mr. Lenderking replied: I think the Biden administration took office and assessed the situation and very quickly decided that Yemen was a priority in its international foreign policy. And I think because of our focus on Yemen, we were able to work with the United Nations and Yemen's political parties to reach a ceasefire that lasted almost two years and brought real closure to most of the countries. . Situation of fighting in Yemen. That is a very important development. We were also able to continue supplying humanitarian aid. Currently, Houthi attacks on international shipping are actually jeopardizing that ceasefire. ”
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