Al-Alimi requests international action to classify the Houthis as a “terrorist organization”

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The head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to support an international move to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, in light of the continuing confrontations and mutual accusations regarding targeting civilians and obstructing efforts to end the war.

The request came during a phone call between Al-Alimi and Guterres, on Monday, during which they discussed developments in the situation in Yemen and the repercussions of the escalation on international peace and security, according to the Yemeni news agency “Saba.”

Al-Alimi also called for action through the Security Council to ensure the implementation of the arms embargo to the Houthi militia, dry up their sources of funding, and hold accountable those who support them and those responsible for the violations attributed to them.

Al-Alimi said that the current stage requires moving from international condemnation to full implementation of international legitimacy resolutions, stressing the necessity of lifting the siege on cities, opening safe roads and corridors for civilians, and allowing food and medical supplies to arrive.

In the same context, Al-Alimi briefed the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the Houthi attacks with missiles and drones on state institutions and civilian facilities, in addition to the expansion of attacks on cities and villages and the continued siege of Taiz and the bombing of its residential neighborhoods.

The Yemeni president accused the group of exploiting political initiatives and the truce to reorganize its ranks and continue escalation, noting the continued detention of more than 70 UN employees, in addition to the kidnapping of thousands of citizens, according to what the official agency reported.

For his part, Guterres condemned the Houthi attacks inside Yemen and across the border, and expressed his rejection of the continued detention of United Nations and public workers, and violations that conflict with international law.

The Secretary-General affirmed the United Nations' commitment to providing stronger support to the Yemeni government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting the threats, according to a statement by the "Saba" agency.

Al-Alimi's request comes after Yemen's call, during the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad on October 17, to classify the Houthis as a terrorist organization, dry up their sources of funding, and stop the flow of weapons and military expertise to them.

In its statement issued on October 18, the Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Council also called for classifying the group as a terrorist organization, and for emphasizing the implementation of the arms embargo imposed on it under Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216 issued in 2015.

In 2022, the Security Council included the Houthis within the sanctions regime for Yemen, subjecting them to arms embargo measures, while the new Yemeni move aims to obtain international support to classify the group as a terrorist organization.