Trump to Redesignate Houthis as Foreign Terror Organization
The new Trump administration announced plans to redesignate the Yemen-based Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, subjecting the group to additional sanctions, financial reporting requirements and other restrictions.
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The Biden administration labeled the Houthis as specially designated global terrorists in early 2024 (see 2401170025) but revoked the group’s status as a foreign terrorist organization in 2021 over concerns that it made it harder for humanitarian groups to operate in Yemen (see 2102100016).
A Jan. 22 executive order directs the State Department to “recommend the re-designation of the Houthis within 30 days.” The agency must also notify Congress, which can review and block the designation.
The move has support among Republicans (see 2501150011), including Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who said Jan. 22 that President Joe Biden’s decision to lift the designation was “reckless.” The Houthis “have launched numerous attacks on U.S. interests and international shipping in the Red Sea -- disrupting global supply chains and driving up costs,” McCaul said, adding that President Donald Trump did the “right thing.”
Trump said in his executive order that it will be the policy of the U.S. to “cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and thereby end their attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.”