In response to recent actions by the Houthi rebel group, President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly planning to reinstate the designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. This decision comes three years after Secretary of State Antony Blinken had delisted them in February 2021 to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into Yemen. The move is fueled by the Houthi rebels’ involvement in the bombing of a U.S.-owned cargo ship and follows four fresh U.S. strikes on Yemen targeting anti-ship ballistic missiles used by the group in the Red Sea. The announcement of the re-designation is expected on Wednesday.
The initial removal of the terrorist designation by Blinken was aimed at easing the delivery of essential aid to Yemen. However, the Trump administration had designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in its final days, leading to concerns about worsening the humanitarian situation. Blinken’s reversal faced criticism but was justified as an effort to ensure the continued flow of crucial supplies.
The renewed designation as specially designated global terrorists does not entail sanctions for providing ‘material support’ or travel bans associated with the Foreign Terrorist Organization label. President Biden, in response to reporters last week, expressed his belief that the Houthis are a terrorist group.
The recent U.S. military actions against the Houthi rebels are a response to their targeting of Red Sea shipping, declaring war on the U.S. over its support for Israel in the conflict with Hamas. The strikes occurred after the rebels attacked a U.S. cargo ship on Monday, with Iranian-backed Houthi militants firing an anti-ship ballistic missile, hitting the M/V Gibraltar Eagle.