Henry Ridgwell (VOA), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons / Joshua Qualls/Governor's Press Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

The Biden administration is contemplating removing the terrorist designation from an Islamic terrorist group as part of a strategy to address Middle Eastern conflicts through diplomatic means, as reported by Bloomberg.

The group in question, the Houthis, backed by Iran and based in Yemen, has been involved in a series of missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping and U.S. and coalition forces in the Red Sea, in support of Hamas, which is engaged in conflict with Israel.

Despite their inclusion on the U.S. Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list, the administration would consider delisting the Houthis should they cease their regional attacks.

“My hope is that we can find diplomatic off-ramps,” said Tim Lenderking, the special envoy for Yemen under the Biden administration. “To find ways to deescalate and allow us to pull back, eventually, the designation and of course to end the military strikes on Houthis’ military capability.”

The administration's stance on the Houthis has shifted during President Biden's term. Initially removed from the U.S. terrorist lists early in 2021 due to concerns about humanitarian impacts on Yemen, the Houthis were re-added to the SDGT list in January following attacks against Western vessels. They have not been relisted as a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), however.

Lenderking's comments indicate the administration's willingness to explore diplomatic solutions to end the conflict with the Houthis. He acknowledged the failure of defensive military strategies in the Red Sea to stop Houthi attacks.

Despite their reliance on Iranian support, the Houthis have continued their assaults even as other Iranian-backed groups have ceased actions at Tehran's request, underscoring their operational independence within Iran's proxy network.

When asked whether the Biden administration was offering the Houthis a “quid pro quo” by offering to delist them as a terrorist group if they cease aggression against international shipping, Lenderking said, “We would certainly study that but not assume it’s an automatic thing.”