US Set to Redesignate Houthis as a Terrorist Organization

The United States is taking steps to redesignate the Houthi rebels as a terrorist group amid rising tensions and regional security concerns.

U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated a process to designate Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization.

The Ansar Allah movement, widely referred to as the Houthis, has dominated a significant portion of Yemen since the mid-2010s. Initially labeled a terrorist organization during Trump’s presidency, this designation was lifted by the Biden administration in February 2021 due to concerns that it hindered humanitarian aid efforts.

On Wednesday, Trump issued an executive order directing the secretary of state to prepare a report on “the designation of Ansar Allah as a foreign terrorist organization.”

According to the document, since 2023, the Houthis have targeted US warships with missiles “dozens of times” and fired “more than 300 projectiles” at Israel. Additionally, they have attacked oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and launched both missiles and kamikaze drones at commercial ships in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

According to the order, “The actions of the Houthis jeopardize the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, endanger our closest regional partners’ safety, and threaten global maritime trade stability.”

Beginning in October 2023, the Houthis have been attacking merchant ships and launching ballistic missiles at Israel to protest against the Gaza conflict. In response, the US, UK, and Israel have carried out bombings on Houthi-associated military sites and infrastructure within Yemen.

On Wednesday, the Houthis declared that they would be releasing the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship registered under the Bahamian flag and seized in November 2023. The group consisted of 25 individuals from Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. They were captured while sailing on their journey from Türkiye to India as reported by BBC News.