The implications of the designation decision, its dimensions, its impact and the extent of its successful implementation… America chooses the difficult path in Yemen
The Yemeni-American confrontations are returning to the forefront of the scene in the Middle East, and the new administration has decided to take a new path that appears more complex than others. What is the possibility of America achieving its agenda through the new path, and where will the mutual escalation lead?
Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
After months of confrontation with Yemen on economic, military, and diplomatic levels, amid the failure of all options to contain the support operations for Gaza, and Washington reaching a dead end as Yemen succeeded in directing strikes on all fronts, the new administration led by Trump decided to take a new course of action, starting with announcing the classification of Ansar Allah the “Houthis,” as a terrorist organization, and it does not seem that it will stop there.
For the new US administration, the military option against Yemen is no longer available in light of its decision to withdraw the aircraft carrier “Truman” and its fleet from the Red Sea as the last striking US force in the Gulf, and there is no room for the economic war, as Yemen has managed to absorb its shocks over more than a decade of the war led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE by proxy.
The only difficult option left for America is to close the communication windows with Sana’a as part of a plan aimed at tightening the siege on Yemen diplomatically and economically.
Regarding the designation decision, it was not new, as it was announced by the Trump administration at the moment of his inauguration in the White House, and it was expected to come into effect 30 days after its announcement. But its postponement seems to have regional dimensions, as it comes at a time when the international and regional circles are awaiting the return of the war on Gaza and the repercussions it will cause, foremost of which is the return of the support operations of the resistance, led by Yemen. America’s choice of this particular timing, according to experts, has the character of maximum pressure on Yemen to make concessions regarding the cessation of maritime operations, which was the subject of deep discussion during the call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi.
Regardless of America’s objectives in activating the designation now, the data confirms that the effects of the decision will be limited, but its repercussions will be greater than expected. Sanaa has revealed that there is no option left on the table currently except a return to military escalation, and this option may not be limited to the internal fronts, but its repercussions may extend to neighboring countries that have been involved in one way or another in the American escalation or maintain American interests on their soil.
The American administration may believe that the announcement of the designation will enhance the maximum pressure on Yemen and push it, like other countries, to surrender and accept a negotiated formula that ends its support operations for Gaza and lifts its weight off America’s shoulders, obligated to protect its entity in occupied Palestine. But reality indicates that the American step is taking everyone towards an escalatory trajectory from which America itself may not emerge unscathed.