Trump Administration Puts Houthis Back On Terror List
Backed by Iran, the Houthis in Yemen have proven to be a persistent threat to international security and trade.
The Trump administration has designated the Houthi rebels a Foreign Terrorist Organization—years after the Biden administration removed them from the list in February 2021.
Using anti-ship missiles and suicide drones, the Houthis have managed to upset global shipping and cause a geopolitical headache.
What is a Foreign Terrorist Organization?
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department announced that it was designating Ansar Allah, commonly referred to as the “Houthis,” as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization comes with heavy sanctions and increased military and intelligence scrutiny.
“As President Trump laid out in Executive Order 14175, “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 State Department said in a release to journalists.
Backed by Iran, the Houthis have proven to be a persistent threat to international security and trade. The strategic position of Yemen in the Red Sea and close to the Suez Canal, where thousands of cargo ships transit every year, has allowed the group to easily strike at the global economy. Several cargo ships and tankers have been hit, resulting in increased transit times and costs for the consumer.
“Today’s action taken by the State Department demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, the safety of the American people, and the security of the United States. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,” the State Department added.
America’s Long War Against the Houthis
The United States has been leading an international response against the Houthis to ensure that their malicious activities do not get out of hand. Successive U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups have deployed in the region, and the U.S. military has repeatedly conducted precision strikes against Houthi military and logistical targets. In one of those strikes in October, the Air Force even used B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bombers against the terrorist organization.
“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. Most recently, the Houthis spared Chinese-flagged ships while targeting American and allied vessels,” the State Department added.
This reference to Chinese vessels is intentional. To support their campaign, the Houthis rely on monetary, logistical, and technological assistance from abroad. Iran—a known sponsor of international terrorism—has been the main backer of the Yemeni rebels.
The State Department also sent a clear message to Tehran that it will not tolerate any foreign support to the Houthi rebels. However, it is not just Iran that has been supporting the Yemeni rebels: Russia has reportedly provided targeting data to the group, enabling them to carry out strikes against international shipping and Western warships.
Several other countries have provided warships and combat and intelligence aircraft to support the campaign against the Houthi rebels.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / akramalrasny.