Trump Redesignates Houthis as Foreign Terror Organization

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump has re-designated the Iran-aligned Houthi Islamic militant group in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, Reuters reports. Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden had dropped the terrorist designation Trump had given the Houthis in his first term because of humanitarian concerns in war-torn Yemen.

However, following the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel and the consequent war in Gaza, the Houthis announced in 2023 that they would join Hamas’ fight against Israel. The group began launching missiles at US, Israeli and Western vessels in the Red Sea, and fired missiles at southern Israeli cities. This caused Biden to designate the Houthis as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization which is a lower designation than FTO.

Designation as an FTO carries harsher penalties and sanctions which humanitarian aid groups say may hamper the delivery of aid to Yemeni civilians in need. “The Trump administration is aware of these consequences but chose to move forward anyway, and will bear responsibility for the hunger and disease that will follow,” the Oxfam America’s director of peace and security, Scott Paul, said in a statement.

However, the Trump administration said the redesignation is an important security measure.”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 White House stated.

“The President will direct USAID to end its relationship with entities that have made payments to the Houthis, or which have opposed international efforts to counter the Houthis while turning a blind eye towards the Houthis’ terrorism and abuses,” the White House said.

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