US Re-Designates Houthis as Terror Group

The U.S. State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has officially re-designated Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), following an executive order by President Donald Trump. This move reverses a 2021 decision by the Biden administration, which had lifted the FTO designation due to concerns about hindering humanitarian aid to Yemen. The Houthis have been involved in launching hundreds of attacks on international vessels in the Red Sea, particularly targeting American and allied ships. The designation allows for harsher penalties and sanctions against those providing material support to the group. The Trump administration criticized the Biden administration's previous stance as weak, emphasizing the threat the Houthis pose to American interests and regional stability. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have been instrumental in the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.