Biden appears to concede Yemen strikes aren't stopping Houthis, but vows they will continue anyway

For months, the Houthis have subjected the region to hijackings and missile launches, prompting the intervention of U.S. vessels.

Published: January 18, 2024 3:32pm

Updated: January 18, 2024 4:52pm

President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to concede that a series of U.S. strikes on Yemeni territory under control of the Houthi terrorist group have not succeeded in curtailing the group's activities, but that he nonetheless planned to continue such operations.

The U.S. has, in recent weeks, conducted a series of strikes on Houthi targets in response to the group's harassment of commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The group, which controls a swath of territory adjacent to the critical waterway, is one three major factions in the ongoing Yemeni Civil War. For months, the Houthis have subjected the region to hijackings and missile launches, prompting the intervention of U.S. vessels.

"Are the airstrikes in Yemen working?" one reporter asked, to which Biden replied "[a]re they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes."

Just the News has sought comment from the White House on Biden's remarks.

"Are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes."



US President Joe Biden responds after being asked whether airstrikes in Yemen are working.https://t.co/O06qSSNmvz



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The remarks come one day after the Biden administration redesignated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. The administration delisted the organization in 2021, shortly after Biden took office.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.

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