Are Houthis a terrorist group? Yes they are. Just like ISIS. Arguments that this will impact the peace process or bring Houthis closer to Iran r flawed. Houthis alliance with Iran is solid & unbreakable.Good intentions aside, the current “peace” process has emboldened Houthis.1/6

UN mediation has helped Houthis regroup & expand militarily by blocking military action against them. It is focused on a quick fix and a political settlement that will set #Yemen for yet more devastating conflicts in the future. It is deeply flawed & counterproductive 2/6

However, designating Houthis will come at a high price to ordinary Yemenis with minimal effect on Houthis. Waivers for humanitarian orgs r not enough to mitigate impact. Private & banking sector will likely collapse. Millions of Yemenis will lose their jobs.3/6

Neither political negotiations with Houthis nor their designation alone will contain their (& Iran’s threat). Only a strong & well planned ground military action that weakens them will neutralize their threat & bring Yemen closer to peace.4/6

Saudi led coalition, however, does not seem to be interested in defeating Houthis. KSA & UAE r backing proxies that r fighting each other which played into the hands of Houthis (& Iran). Saudis failed to support Yemeni military necessarily to combat Houthis.5/6

I discuss this in some detail in a piece published by @MiddleEastInst last year https://www.mei.edu/publications/running-around-circles-how-saudi-arabia-losing-its-war-yemen-iran