Biden re-lists Houthis as terror group following months of Red Sea attacks

The Biden administration on Wednesday redesignated the Yemen-based Houthi militant group as a terrorist organization after delisting the Iran-backed group, formally known as Ansarallah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization less than one month into office. 

The announcement comes after the Houthis have launched attacks for months on U.S. military forces and other vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, the Houthis will not be relisted for another 30 days, however, as national security advisor Jake Sullivan said it would give the government time to "ensure humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen."

The Houthis are once again considered to be a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, after the Biden administration revoked the designation from the group in February 2021. 

"This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions," Sullivan said. "If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation."

Major energy companies such as BP and, most recently, Shell, have suspended all Red Sea shipments in light of the Houthi attacks, which intensified in response to Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

American and British forces last week conducted strikes on Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen in response to the ongoing attacks, but it did not appear to deter the Iran-backed terrorist group. This week, the Houthis struck a U.S. cargo ship off the coast of Yemen with a ballistic missile.

"As President Biden has said, the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce," Sullivan also said Wednesday.

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