US Redesignates Yemen's Houthis as a Global Terrorist Organization
The United States has reclassified the Houthi paramilitary group as a global terrorist organisation, which will lead to severe financial sanctions against the Iranian-backed group, the US government website reports.
"The Department of State today announces the designation of Ansar al-Ahrar, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Group, effective 30 days from today," the statement said.
"We are taking these measures because of the continuing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks are a clear example of terrorism and violations of international law and a serious threat to human life, global trade, and the delivery of humanitarian aid."
The move follows an escalation of Houthi attacks on merchant and military ships from various countries in the Red Sea and the hijacking of a Greek oil tanker. In total, Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the vital shipping lane.
US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched airstrikes last week in response to the Houthi attacks.
US officials have said that the re-designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organisation is aimed at cutting off their funding and arming.
In February 2021, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken removed the group from the list of both foreign terrorist organisations and global terrorists.
The Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen, have said that their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea are aimed at supporting the Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza, which began after the Islamist terrorist group Hamas, also backed by Iran, carried out a terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October, killing more than 1,100 people and taking hundreds of Israeli civilians' hostage.
The United States, Israel and a number of other countries have also recognised Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
As The Gaze previously reported, the Suzuki automotive company has temporarily suspended the operation of its plant in Hungary for a week due to logistical disruptions caused by Houthi terrorist attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea.