The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have officially been classified as a foreign terrorist organization, as announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday. This move fulfills one of President Donald Trump’s initial promises when he assumed office.
Rubio said the U.S. “will not tolerate” any country that does business with “terrorist organizations like the Houthis.”
“The recent decision made by the State Department highlights the Trump Administration’s dedication to safeguarding our national security interests, the well-being of the American citizens, and the stability of the United States,” stated Rubio in a released statement. “The designation of terrorist groups is a crucial tool in our battle against terrorism and serves as an effective method to diminish support for terrorist operations.”
The Houthis have been responsible for over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea post the assaults by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to a conflict in Gaza. The U.S. military has taken measures to protect its naval vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring the safe passage of commercial ships and preventing attacks by the Houthis.
After Trump suggested removing Palestinian from Gaza last month, the Houthis’ leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said in a televised speech that the group would take military action against the U.S. and Israel.
There has been a policy debate at the highest levels of the U.S. military about what is the best way to counter the Houthis.
Some suggest a more traditional counterterrorism approach to the Houthis, with persistent strikes targeting the individuals planning and carrying out the ongoing attacks, while others want a more defensive approach that goes after Houthi infrastructure and weapons-storage facilities.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
