Yemen government welcomes US expected designation of Houthis as a terrorist group

Yemen's internationally recognised government welcomed on Monday Washington's decision to designate the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their leaders as global terrorists effective from January 19.

The move came just 10 days before the administration of US President Donald Trump leaves office.

"The designations are intended to hold Ansar Allah accountable for its terrorist acts, including cross-border attacks threatening civilian populations, infrastructure and commercial shipping," Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said, using the Houthis' official name.

The rebels have led a brutal campaign that has "killed many people, continues to destabilise the region and denies Yemenis a peaceful solution to the conflict in their country," he said.

Mr Pompeo said his department will notify the US Congress of its intention to designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, and three of its leaders, including Abdulmalik Al Houthi, as global terrorists.

Yemen's government spokesman, Rajed Al Badi, told The National, the move is welcomed by officials and will put an end to terror activities in the region.

“We welcome this decision and believe that it will contribute to strengthening the fight against terrorism in the region and the world,” he said.

Proponents of the plan from the Trump administration and the Yemeni government say that all political and military options to weaken the Houthis have failed so far. By some estimates, the rebels control a third of Yemen’s most populous territories and vital economic institutions in the north.

Mr Badi said designation will not prevent political consultations from progressing and the government will continue to pursue peace through the United Nations.

“The lack of progress for peace has been a result of rebel's stubbornness and their lack of positive engagement with the efforts of the UN,” Mr Badi said.

All the actions that Houthis have taken over the years despite those of terror groups, Hamza Al Kamaly, deputy minister of Youth, told The National.

"They have targeted civilians, women and children, committed war crimes, damaged the country's infrastructure and lastly the attack on Aden's airport is a clear indication that they are a terrorist organistaion," Mr Al Kamaly said.

"Another issue is that this will put pressure on the rebels to come to the negotiations table," he said.

Yemen's deputy human rights minister Majid Fadhil told The National The Houthis are a terror group, saying that since 2014 they have killed and wounded over 41 thousand civilians.

"Among them were women and children, we have had 17,199 cases of kidnapping and disappearance, of which more than 3,500 cases remain unanswered, they are a terror group," Mr Fadhil said.

The rebels have planted more than two million mines which destroyed more than 900 homes in 17 governorates, he said.

Yemeni human rights activist Baraa Shiban called the designation a "right step".

"Finally after months of deliberations the US administration made the right step today by designating the Houthis a terrorist organisation Yemen," he wrote on Twitter, Monday.