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The US government has re-designated Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi rebels, as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The designation had initially been applied by then-president Donald Trump in January 2021 before it was rescinded by the Biden administration.
“As a result of the Biden administration’s weak policy, the Houthis have fired at US Navy warships dozens of times, launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure in partner nations and attacked commercial vessels transiting Bab al-Mandeb more than 100 times,” said a statement released by the US administration on 22 January.
“The executive order directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with others, to recommend the re-designation of the Houthis within 30 days.
“Under President Trump, it is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources and thereby end their attacks on US personnel and civilians, US partners and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.
“Following the Houthis’ re-designation as an FTO, the executive order also directs the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Secretary of State to jointly review United Nations partners, non-governmental organisations and contractors operating in Yemen.
“Following this review, the President will direct USAID to end its relationship with entities that have made payments to the Houthis, or which have opposed international efforts to counter the Houthis while turning a blind eye towards the Houthis’ terrorism and abuses.”
The Houthis are widely known to have connections with and been supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. In addition, the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure, including multiple attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, the deadly January 2022 attacks on the United Arab Emirates and more than 300 projectiles fired at Israel since October 2023.
The US government has confirmed that Houthis activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of closest regional partners and the stability of global maritime trade.
