U.S. Re-Designates Yemeni Houthis As A “Foreign Terrorist Organisation”

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to re-designate Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).

This will reverse the action taken by President Joe Biden’s Administration in 2021 when it removed the designation.

The move will reintroduce stricter economic penalties on the Iran-backed group, responsible for carrying out a series of attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have carried out over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023.

These attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa, which is a longer and more expensive route.

The Houthis have also sunk two vessels, seized one, and killed at least four seafarers.

The White House issued a statement saying that the Houthis’ actions threaten the safety of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the stability of global maritime trade, and the security of U.S. allies.

Under the Biden Administration, efforts were made to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen by removing the FTO designation in 2021. This was done to allow aid groups to continue working in the country without the risk of violating U.S. sanctions.

However, despite this move, they continued to attack shipping routes and U.S. military assets.

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The Biden Administration placed the group on a slightly less severe list, the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list. This allowed some humanitarian assistance to continue flowing to Yemen while still imposing some penalties on the group.

But the rise in attacks forced Trump to reintroduce the more restrictive FTO designation, which will impose stricter penalties on the group and those who support them.

The executive order directs the Secretary of State to recommend the re-designation of the Houthis within 30 days. It also calls for a review of U.N. partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and contractors operating in Yemen to ensure that they are not helping the Houthis or turning a blind eye to their terrorism.

If any organizations are found to have supported the Houthis, the U.S. will cut off their funding.

Oxfam, a British charity, warned that this could disrupt essential imports of food, medicine, and fuel into Yemen, making the situation worse for civilians.

Scott Paul, the director of peace and security at Oxfam, said that the Trump administration is aware of all these consequences but still chose to move forward with the re-designation anyway.

Meanwhile, David Schenker, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under President Trump, explained that the re-designation is a clear response to the growing power of the Houthis in the Middle East.

He added that while the measure may not change their behaviour, it shows that the U.S. is taking a firm stance against Iranian influence in the region.

The order also directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Secretary of State to review their relationships with entities that have made payments to the Houthis. If any organizations are found to be supporting the Houthis, USAID will end its relationship with them.

Reference: Reuters, whitehouse.gov

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