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.

  • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    The blockade in its current form is because of Hamas, there was a far less restrictive blockade before they were elected. Without Hamas there is no October 7th, which means no war and no airstrikes.

    It’s possible that they just would have chosen a different terrorist group dedicated to genocide of Jews to back though, as they have historically. It’s hard to know what lies on the path not traveled.

    • Sybil@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      The blockade in its current form

      seems pretty obvious that there was a blockade before october 7, so it’s not possible that october 7 was the start of anything.

      • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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        10 months ago

        The blockade was put in place when Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza to maintain Israel’s safety, and a more restrictive one implemented when Hamas was elected. Turns out it was a pretty good idea to have security at this border and to deny them resources with which they can attack Israel. October 7th was proof that it was insufficient, and it represents a start to this war and to the bombing. Gaza fared quite better before this unprovoked attack.

          • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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            10 months ago

            Indeed it can be, a blockade against Israel caused the 6-day war. The difference is, Hamas’ cannot win, they can just poke the bear.

              • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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                10 months ago

                If you want to follow the causal chain all the way back to its source, this conflict started when Arab nationalists started murdering Jews for legally buying land in the Levant.