One of Pres. Biden's first foreign policy moves was a pledge to help end one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Mohammed Huwais/AFP via Getty Images
"I don't want to overstate it because we've been here before, but there's a chance that we actually have a path forward with the new special envoy laying out what is a credible plan," a senior State Department official told ABC News. The Houthis, a northern rebel group increasingly backed by Iran, swept to power in 2014 when they seized the capital, Sanaa, amid Arab Spring strife. In response, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and an Arab coalition launched a military intervention – seven years ago this past Saturday – to prop up the Yemeni government and keep from power what they saw as an Iranian proxy.
MORE: Despite wave of violence, US to lift terrorist designation on Houthi rebels in Yemen after warnings of humanitarian crisis Emirati officials in particular have been lobbying for a reversal, with Biden announcing in January that one is under consideration and the State Department consistently calling Houthi attacks"terrorism."A Yemeni soldier inspects a site of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting two houses in Sanaa, Yemen, March 26, 2022.
The U.S. military's involvement in the conflict has been limited since November 2018 when, under similar bipartisan pressure, the Trump administration halted midair refueling for Saudi-led coalition aircraft. That air force has been accused by the U.N. of potential war crimes – indiscriminate bombardments and targeting civilian infrastructure.
The coalition on Wednesday launched a unilateral cease-fire. The U.N.'s new special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, welcomed it as part of his call for a truce for Ramadan, Islam's holy month which starts this weekend. Grundberg has been conducting extensive consultations with not just the warring countries, but also political parties, civil society activists, and women's rights advocates.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sean Hannity: Hunter Biden laptop story raises concerns if Joe Biden was compromisedFox News host Sean Hannity exposes the Biden family’s questionable business dealings on ‘Hannity.’
Read more »
President Biden to sign Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crimePresident Joe Biden is set to sign the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law Tuesday, making lynching a federal hate crime.
Read more »
Biden to host Singapore's prime minister at White HouseSingapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is preparing to visit President Joe Biden at the White House.
Read more »