By revoking Houthis designation as FTO unconditionally, Biden Admin made a huge mistake. Revoking could have been used as a leverage on the Houthis to deliver something in return, at least allow engineers to empty SAFER tanker. The US just lost that leverage for nothing. 1/5

Biden Admin wants to demonstrate a shift n US approach towards #Yemen by stepping up diplomacy & ending support for militarily intervention.The expectation is that Houthis will reciprocate & engage in peace talks in good faith. But that is not how Houthis will interpret this.2/5

Houthis will see & sell this as a victory from God, that they forced America to succumb to their demands effortlessly. Revoking the decision easily tells Houthis that they r free to continue their violence & will never be held accountable for their brutal ways to take power.3/5

No amount of diplomacy will force Houthis to change their ways.They r on a holly war to fulfill an ancient religious prophecy,one that involves taking Mecca & establishing their Shia version of Caliphate.Only leverage will force them to change.Biden just lost that for nothing.4/5

Moving forward, Biden Admin should be cautious how to employ diplomacy. Forcing a political solution under current conditions wil only embolden Houthis & play into their hand militarily. It will not end the war & will only make matters much worse.That will be Biden's legacy.5/5