The Biden administration is expected to announce plans to redesignate Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists.

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.

  • queermunist she/her
    25·
    5 months ago

    Before we started shooting them down, they missed quite often.

    … okay, fair. Maybe it was just luck with the rocket attacks.

    I will say that the drones are precision weapons, and they never seem to use those to kill or wound civilians. I think that matters because it demonstrates that their intent isn’t to kill or mutilate civilians, their intent is to divert vessels and disrupt trade.

    So the Houthis DO sound like terrorism to you?

    Let me clarify: terrorism, to me, should mean “killing/maiming civilians to achieve a political goal”. They haven’t done that and they don’t seem to intend to do that.

    Terrorism, to me, is also a worthless politicized label that the US just slaps on anyone who it deems a threat to its own imperial interests. Two of the largest terrorist organizations in the world are the IDF and the US armed forces , but politically they are completely immune to the label. Instead, groups like the ELF are labeled as terrorists because they did some arson.

    Oh, yes, it was our fault that the Houthis execute LGBT people.

    It’s the fault of propagandists for tying our queerness with the Western imperialist project. That’s not our fault. We didn’t choose to do that. People in power use us as totems to justify bloodshed, so the victims see this and react in a natural and entirely predictable way.

    This is blowback. This is what happens when you wave a rainbow flag while blowing up children by the thousands.

    But I don’t know why I was expecting any connection with reality at all from you.

    I don’t know why I expected a shred of decency or respect from you. You seem to delight in harassing and belittling people.

    • PugJesus@kbin.social
      72·
      5 months ago

      I will say that the drones are precision weapons, and they never seem to use those to kill or wound civilians. I think that matters because it demonstrates that their intent isn’t to kill or mutilate civilians, their intent is to divert vessels and disrupt trade.

      Okay, so they were okay with killing people with the rockets they are still firing, but they aren’t okay with killing people with the drones they keep getting shot down.

      Let me clarify: terrorism, to me, should mean “killing/maiming civilians to achieve a political goal”. They haven’t done that and they don’t seem to intend to do that.

      So if I toss a grenade into a crowded cafe, and everyone scattered before anyone gets hurt, that’s not terrorism, right? Despite the fact that I’ve used terror against civilians with lethal weapons in an attempt to achieve a political goal.

      I missed, your honor. I’m innocent.

      It’s the fault of propagandists for tying our queerness with the Western imperialist project. That’s not our fault. We didn’t choose to do that. People in power use us as totems to justify bloodshed, so the victims see this and react in a natural and entirely predictable way.

      Oh, yes, as we all know, Yemen was very queer-friendly before the evil West started supporting LGBT rights!

      I honestly can’t tell if you’re honestly this deluded or just disingenuous.

      I don’t know why I expected a shred of decency or respect from you. You seem to delight in harassing and belittling people.

      I’m sorry for not treating your endorsement of the murder of LGBT people with kid gloves. I’m sure your feelings are very important to the queer people the Houthis regularly torture and murder.