![U.S. Re-Designates Yemeni Houthis As A \"Foreign Terrorist Organisation\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.marineinsight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Houthis-300x157.png?resize=300%2C157&ssl=1\")
<\/div>\n![\"Houthis\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.marineinsight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Houthis.png?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1\")
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to re-designate Yemen\u2019s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).<\/p>\n
This will reverse the action taken by President Joe Biden\u2019s Administration in 2021 when it removed the designation.<\/p>\n
The move will reintroduce stricter economic penalties on the Iran-backed group, responsible for carrying out a series of attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have carried out over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023.<\/p>\n
These attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa, which is a longer and more expensive route.<\/p>\n
The Houthis have also sunk two vessels, seized one, and killed at least four seafarers.<\/p>\n
The White House issued a statement saying that the Houthis\u2019 actions threaten the safety of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the stability of global maritime trade, and the security of U.S. allies.<\/p>\n
Under the Biden Administration, efforts were made to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen by removing the FTO designation in 2021. This was done to allow aid groups to continue working in the country without the risk of violating U.S. sanctions.<\/p>\n
However, despite this move, they continued to attack shipping routes and U.S. military assets.<\/p>\n