US Labels Yemen’s Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organization

The White House announced on Wednesday that Yemen's Houthi group has been officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), signaling a renewed US policy to combat the group's operations and capabilities in collaboration with regional allies.

In a statement, the Trump administration confirmed this decision, adding that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will cease any financial relationships with entities that have previously made payments to the Houthis.

The statement highlighted the global repercussions of Houthi attacks, particularly those targeting Red Sea shipping routes, which have exacerbated inflation and disrupted international trade.

Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani welcomed the US decision, describing it as a "critical step toward addressing the threats posed by the Houthi group to regional and international security."

He urged the global community, including the UK and the European Union, to follow suit and classify the Houthis as a "global terrorist organization."

The latest designation comes nearly three years after the Houthis were delisted as an FTO by the Biden administration in February 2021.

The reclassification follows escalating Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which prompted the US Treasury Department to impose sanctions earlier this year.

In January 2024, Washington had already labeled the Houthis as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" (SDGT) group under Executive Order 13224. This distinction, however, differs from the FTO designation in terms of enforcement and legal consequences.