Senators Lead Effort for Congress to Condemn the Houthi Movement in Yemen

Statement

Today, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) introduced a concurrent resolution condemning the Houthi movement in Yemen for human rights violations, violence against civilians and its ties to Iran. U.S. Representatives Will Hurd (R-Texas), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

"The Houthi rebels have plunged Yemen into a brutal civil war at the bidding of Iran's ayatollahs. The United States ought to formally condemn the Houthis for their terrorist attacks on American sailors and innocent civilians. By their actions, the Houthis condemn themselves as terrorists and outlaws from the civilized world," said Cotton.

"The Houthis' armed takeover of Yemen in 2014-2015 ignited that country's horrific civil war, and, today, Yemen is the scene of the world's most dire humanitarian crisis. The Houthis are also responsible for documented human rights violations and attacks on commercial shipping, U.S. warships, and civilians in the region," said Inhofe. "The Iranian regime backs them for the sole purpose of undermining our partners' security and ours, and I am proud to join this resolution to strongly condemn the Houthis' activities."

"The Houthis regularly commit abhorrent acts of terror," said Blackburn. "Their actions need to be formally condemned and Iran, the world's most egregious state-sponsor of terror, should be held accountable for supporting the harm they inflict. I join my colleagues in calling out the Houthis for the terrorists they are - this is necessary for moving toward peace in Yemen."

"The U.S. must remain clear-eyed about the threat to millions of innocent people and the security of the region posed by the Houthis and their backers in Tehran," said Hurd. "I am proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this resolution that condemns the Houthis for their blatant disregard for human rights and innocent life and supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to end the Yemeni Civil War."