Thread by @michaelh992

🚩A month ago, the truce expired in #Yemen due to inacceptable last-minute Houthi demands to have the salaries of members of their “government” and even “armed forces” be paid through oil revenues.

A thread 🧵

The truce lasted six-months and helped ease the humanitarian crisis in the country. Shipments of fuel increased, regular flights to and from Sana’a reopened

The Houthi on the other hand did not uphold their end of the bargain, failing to reopen roads to the city of #Taiz. A recent deadly road accident in the dangerous mountain roads near the city shows the price of such failure.

This was one of various signs suggesting the #Iran-backed group was not interested in a broader ceasefire, or a political solution to the conflict.

Few weeks before the expiration of the truce, the #Houthis also launched an attack against a key area of #Taiz, to tighten the siege of the city - despite pledging to actually loosen the siege

They also held a military parade in the key port of #Hodeidah despite an agreement to demilitarize the city.

Hodeidah is one of the main entry points of humanitarian aid to Yemen. Millions depend on the port remaining open

As the truce was about to expire, the #Houthis made last-minute demands to get funds for their own fighters (!). The fact that this proved a deal-breaker for the anti-Houthi camp isn't exactly a surprise.

#Saudi Arabia has made clear it is still interested in a truce (even the King mentioned it in a speech). The UN Envoy is still negotiating, and was in #Oman a few days ago to meet with a Houthi delegation.

But #Houthis are pressing their demands. The group has also resorted to attacking oil ports with drones, including the al-Dabba port & most recently the port of Mukalla. It has also launched several attacks, including in the Lahj Province and is threatening to expand its attacks

Recently the #Houthi “Defense Minister”, Mohammed al-Atifi renewed the group threats against the Gulf. He said this "The [Saudi-led] Coalition countries have two options, either a truce and #salaries, or missiles and salaries."

It's pretty clear what this is about

This is a group whose behavior is akin to that of a hostage-taker.

But you’d barely know the #Houthis exist from the limited coverage of the #Yemen conflict. Ignorance, and some flawed/biased views have given the group the leeway they need to exist.

The group needs to be designated for what it is: A #terrorist group that uses blackmail, and has served as a breeding ground for Iran’s ballistic and drone programs, the same weapons that have/will be used in #Ukraine for the same purpose: Terror and blackmail.