CAIRO (The Thursday Times) — The Arab Parliament on Friday launched what it called an expanded regional and international action plan to have Yemen’s Houthi movement designated a terrorist organisation, with the European Union its first target, as the group’s missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia go on.
The plan aims to isolate the Iran-backed Houthis politically, financially, and judicially, cut off their funding and weapons, and hold those behind the attacks to account under international law, the Cairo-based legislative body of the Arab League said in a statement posted on X. It described the group as the “terrorist Houthi militia”.
Four tracks
On the diplomatic track, the Arab Parliament said it would approach the parliaments of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France, to build support for firm action against the attacks.
On the political and security track, it will press countries and organisations that have not yet designated the Houthis to do so, starting with the European Union. It plans to engage the European Parliament’s president, Roberta Metsola, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, to seek the group’s inclusion on the EU terrorist list and wider sanctions, including asset freezes on its leaders.
The judicial track involves compiling a documented file on Houthi attacks and alleged violations for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court under the Rome Statute, and urging countries to use their own legal procedures to prosecute those responsible. On the economic track, the body said it would pursue regional and international measures against the group’s financing and smuggling networks, front companies, and money transfers.
The statement said the attacks on Saudi Arabia threatened the kingdom’s security and its civilians, as well as shipping, air traffic, global energy supplies, and trade. It did not set a timeline.
Pressure on Europe
The push comes a day after European officials said Saudi Arabia is pressing the EU to list the Houthis, a step that needs the backing of all 27 member states. The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution on October 22 calling on the bloc to put the group on its terrorist list. The United States, Canada, and Australia have already listed the Houthis as terrorists.
At the UN Security Council this week, members renewed sanctions on Yemen, and Pakistan called the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia “terrorist attacks” that must end immediately. Pakistan’s army has said its commitment to Saudi security is “non-negotiable”.
The Houthis, who say their attacks respond to military operations against them, have claimed strikes on a Saudi pipeline pumping station and an oil site in Yanbu, while Yemen’s government is fortifying Aden as the group’s fighters push towards the city, officials say.
