According to Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Trump is expected to reinstate the Houthis on the State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organizations list, a move reversed by the Biden administration in 2021. "President Trump likely will add the Houthis back on the list as one of his first acts," Dubowitz said.
Elliott Abrams, former US Special Representative for Iran, added that Trump would adopt a far more aggressive stance. “Trump will not stand for daily attacks on US Navy ships by the Houthis using Iranian missiles. He will hit the Houthis harder and make it clear to Iran that if a missile supplied by them kills an American, Iran will be directly targeted,” Abrams stated.
In recent months, the Biden administration has increased airstrikes on Houthi targets as part of a shifting strategy in Yemen. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have continued launching attacks against Israel and vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting crucial shipping routes and threatening global trade. These activities have prompted the Biden administration to reassess its approach.
Looking ahead, Trump is expected to reach out to Gulf states to strengthen the regional coalition against the Houthis. While the Biden administration attempted to rally these countries to the cause, only Bahrain joined the coalition, with others refusing due to concerns over inadequate US protection against Houthi missile and UAV attacks. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explained, “These nations are frustrated by the US's failure to offer defense against missile strikes and UAV assaults from the Houthis. After January 20, we can expect Trump to reverse the Biden administration’s more passive approach and adopt a far tougher stance.”
0 Comments