Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak today (Thursday) called on the European Union to classify the Houthis as a terrorist organization, stressing during a press conference in Brussels the need to pressure the Houthis.

Ben Mubarak told reporters ahead of talks with European Union officials in Brussels: “Just bombing the Houthis will not do enough. We need medium and long-term solutions,” adding: “The European Union has the wrong approach.” There is a need for them to put more pressure on the Houthis, such as classifying them as a terrorist group.”

The Yemeni Foreign Minister rejected the Union’s arguments that designating Al-Houthi would lead to aggravation of the humanitarian situation, indicating that this approach is not working, especially since Al-Houthi is still blackmailing the international community and the humanitarian situation has not improved.

Bin Mubarak called for more European Union support to build Yemeni institutions, such as the Coast Guard, and direct humanitarian aid through the Central Bank in Aden.

He pointed out that including the Houthis on the sanctions list as a terrorist organization is a priority, stressing by saying: “The Houthis will never stop. They have an ideology that, as a group, they have a sacred right (to rule) Yemen.”

The Yemeni minister urged the international community to coordinate with the riparian countries as they are concerned with the security of the Red Sea, holding the Houthi militia responsible for the militarization of the Red Sea.