Biden Administration Expected to Designate Yemen's Houthi Rebel Group as Global Terrorist Organization
The Biden administration is expected to soon announce plans to designate Yemen's Houthi rebel group as a global terrorist organization, a U.S. official confirmed on Tuesday. This comes amid the group's ongoing attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
In the final days of the Trump administration, the State Department designated the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization. That designation came as the Houthis, who control large portions of Yemen, were engaged in a years-long civil war with the internationally-recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
However, in February 2021, the State Department, now under the Biden administration, quickly revoked that foreign terrorist designation, arguing that it would make it difficult for much-needed humanitarian aid to reach the Houthis.
A State Department official told CBS News at the time that the move was "due entirely to the humanitarian consequences of this last-minute designation from the prior administration, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have since made clear would accelerate the world's worst humanitarian crisis."
"This decision has nothing to do with our view of the Houthis and their reprehensible conduct, including attacks against civilians and the kidnapping of American citizens," the official added.
The Global Terrorization Classification and its Implications for Humanitarian Aid
Recently, there has been a shift in the White House's stance on the classification of certain militant groups. The global terrorization classification, which is distinct from the foreign terrorist designation, carries different implications for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
One example of this shift in stance is the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,200 people and sparking the Israel-Hamas war. In response, Houthi rebels have launched numerous attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. These attacks have prompted the White House to reconsider the designation of the Houthi rebels.
On the same day that U.S. and U.K. forces launched airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen, President Biden made comments regarding the group's designation. Despite the airstrikes, the Houthis have continued their attacks, including firing a ballistic missile at a U.S.-owned and operated container ship. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or damage.
Shipping Disruptions Caused by Houthi Attacks
The ongoing attacks by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have had significant impacts on global shipping. Some ocean carriers have been forced to avoid the Red Sea entirely, leading to disruptions in worldwide shipping routes.
The White House has repeatedly accused Iran of being involved in the Houthi's Red Sea attacks, allegations that Tehran has denied. However, the Pentagon recently reported that it seized a boatload of "advanced conventional weapons" sent from Iran to the Houthis, further complicating the situation.
According to Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla of the U.S. Central Command, there is evidence of ongoing shipments of advanced lethal aid from Iran to the Houthis.
