U.S. considering blacklist for Yemen's Houthis: Oman foreign minister

[December 05, 2020]  DUBAI (Reuters) - Oman's foreign minister said on Saturday the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East had discussed with his country the possibility of Washington designating Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement as a terrorist group.

"Yes, that was raised," Sayyed Badr Al Busaidi told a Bahrain summit in response to a question on whether the potential blacklisting had been broached by David Schenker during a recent visit to Muscat.

"I don't think there is a solution based on classifying or blockading one key player in that conflict and not bringing them to the negotiating table," the Omani minister added.

Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last month that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had threatened to blacklist the Houthi movement, which has been battling a Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen since 2015.

The United Nations is trying to revive peace talks stalled since late 2018 to end the war that has been in a military deadlock for years, with the Houthis still holding the capital, Sanaa, and most big urban centres.

"My question to that (a U.S. designation) ... is that decision going to resolve the Yemeni conflict given that this group is a key player? ... Or is it better to really support what the United Nations envoy is trying to do by inviting everyone including that group to the table," Al Busaidi said.

Yemen's conflict is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Houthis, who ousted Yemen's Saudi-backed government from power in Sanaa in late 2014, deny being puppets of Tehran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

Aid workers have raised fears that if Washington designates the Houthis as a terrorist organisation, it could prevent life-saving aid from reaching Yemen, where more than 80% of the population needs help.

(Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Gareth Jones and Helen Popper)

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.