Biden needs to put the Houthi militia on the terrorist list
January 22, 2022, 8:47 am

Biden needs to put the Houthi militia on the terrorist list

After the recent Houthi attacks on targets inside the United Arab Emirates, voices have been raised in America calling for the reclassification of the Houthi group as a "terrorist organization", and this issue has sparked a dispute among those interested in American affairs. The attack by the Houthi on17the_ February 2022 was the first deadly assault on Emirati soil acknowledged by the UAE and claimed by the rebels, who said they had fired ballistic missiles and deployed armed drones.

Two Indians and a Pakistani working for oil giant ADNOC died as three petrol tanks exploded near a storage facility, while a fire also ignited in a construction area at Abu Dhabi airport in the heart of the UAE, a renowned safe haven in the volatile Middle East.

President Biden revoking the designations of Ansarallah, sometimes referred to as the Houthi, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended on 16th_February2021.

The United Arab Emirates asked the U.S. on 19th_ February 2022 to put Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi back on its list of terrorist organizations after a drone attack on the Emirati capital killed three people. The UAE works on building pressure through the UN Security Council over the strike and the capture of an Emirati vessel off the coast of Yemen earlier this month, the person said.

The prominent Republican Senator Jim Inhofe called for the reclassification of the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, condemning the attack on the UAE. A member of the Congressional Armed Forces Committee said on his Twitter account: The deadly attacks on our friends in the UAE show once again that the Iranian-backed Houthi are terrorists, adding, “As I indicated last year, it was a mistake by the Biden administration to raise the classification The Houthi are off the terrorism list.” He continued, “This designation must be restored now.”

Reports said that, Washington vowed to hold the Iran-backed Houthi militias accountable for the Abu Dhabi airport attack, which killed three civilians.US President Joe Biden said on 20th_ February that his administration is considering reclassifying the Yemeni Houthi movement as an international terrorist organization, after missile and drone attacks on the UAE were claimed by the group. The UAE embassy published a tweet on Twitter saying that Ambassador Youssef Al-Otaiba urged the Biden administration to return to that classification in response to Houthi attacks on Abu Dhabi airport and a fuel depot.

Experts linked the designation of the Houthi group as a "terrorist group" to the Trump administration's desire to indirectly restrict Iran. Some commentators linked the Biden administration's decision toward the Houthi to Iran, while others considered it an "olive branch" to offer to Tehran as an expression of its desire to calm regional issues, to pave the way for a new major deal with Iran related to its nuclear file and other regional files.

David Mack, the former US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and currently an expert at the Atlantic Council in Washington, considered that the United States faces a major dilemma after the Houthi group launched the recent attacks inside Emirati territory.

Conclusion

Despite the Gulf put pressure on president Biden administration, specifically by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, it seems very unlikely that President Biden will remove the Houthi militia from the list of terrorism, due to: The Houthi attacks and their threat to the security of the Arabian Gulf and maritime navigation in the Red Sea, would push the Arab Gulf states to request arms deals from the United States of America, as well as reinforce America's pressure on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Without putting the Houthi group on the terrorist list, it will mean that President Biden wants to send a reassuring message to Iran in order to continue the Vienna negotiations on the nuclear file.

This means that the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the countries of the region do not expect serious steps by the United States to repel Iran or against its arms in the region, and this may be within Biden's policies and an extension of the policies of the administration of former US President Obama to avoid confronting Iran.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and others Gulf States should assume their responsibility by finding new, clearer and bolder policies in order to limit Iran’s influence in the region, as well as taking the necessary steps to secure its national security, in addition to holding regional and international conferences on the Houthi militia’s threat to the security of the region.

By: Jassim Mohamad - Bonn

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.