The State Department has officially classified Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), solidifying an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January.
This move underscores the administration's commitment to combating terrorism and curbing support for such activities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the significance of these designations, stating, "Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities." He further asserted that the United States "will not tolerate" nations engaging with "terrorist organizations like the Houthis."
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, Trump initially added the Houthis to the FTO list through an executive order upon his return to the White House. The order highlighted the threat posed by the Houthis, noting, "The Houthis' activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade." The Houthis have been implicated in numerous attacks on American and Israeli vessels in the Red Sea since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023.
Secretary Rubio elaborated on the group's aggressive actions, stating, "Since 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as U.S. service members defending freedom of navigation and our regional partners."
The Trump administration had previously designated the Houthis as an FTO, a decision reversed by former President Joe Biden shortly after taking office in 2021. Biden later assigned a less severe designation to the group last year. In January, the Trump White House criticized the Biden administration's "weak policy," pledging to "eliminate the Houthis' capabilities."
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