WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden’s nominee for ambassador to Yemen responded to criticism from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday over the administration’s decision to remove the foreign terrorist designation from the Iran-backed Houthis, while the nominee for ambassador to Iraq told the committee she will continue efforts to work with Iraqi elected officials as they form a new government.

Steven Fagin, who was nominated to serve as ambassador to Yemen, most recently served as the deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He said as ambassador to Yemen he would work closely with the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen to support United Nations-led efforts to address the conflict in the country.

“The escalation of hostilities and dramatic increase in civilian casualties in Yemen over the last few months are deeply troubling both for the long-suffering people of Yemen and for the entire Gulf region,” Fagin said. “However, continued conflict is not inevitable, and peace in Yemen is possible.”

Fagin faced a persistent line of questioning from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about the Biden administration’s decision to revoke the Houthis’ designation as a foreign terrorist organization.