U.S. Ambassador Discusses “Required Measures” with Al-Zubaidi Following Houthi Terrorist Designation

Yemen Monitor / Aden / Special:

The U.S. Ambassador to Yemen discussed with Aidros Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, the “measures required to be implemented locally” following the designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

According to the official website of the STC, Al-Zubaidi held a virtual meeting with U.S. Ambassador Steven Fagin on Thursday to discuss the situation in Yemen, as well as oil and gas exports.

The website stated that the meeting addressed the latest developments related to the U.S. decision to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization and the “local measures required to be implemented after the decision came into effect.”

The discussions also covered the efforts of the Presidential Leadership Council to “overcome the economic challenges facing the country due to the ongoing war waged by the Houthi militias against our people and their targeting of sovereign economic facilities, primarily oil and gas export facilities.”

Al-Zubaidi described the recent U.S. Treasury measures imposing sanctions on top Houthi leaders as a “victory for justice” in response to the crimes they committed against the defenseless population since igniting the “futile war.”

The Yemeni government welcomed the implementation of the U.S. decision to classify the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and to add several of the group’s leaders to terrorism lists.

On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department confirmed the enforcement of the executive order issued by President Donald Trump after his return to the White House, which reclassified the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. Following this, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions on seven senior Houthi leaders, including the group’s spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam, its ruling council chief Mahdi Al-Mashat, and the cousin of its leader, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi.