White House redesignates Houthis a terrorist organisation

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has reclassified the Yemen Houthis as a terrorist organisation, a decision that carries significant ramifications for the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.

The White House issued a statement claiming that the actions of the Houthis represents a direct ‘threat’ to US citizens and interests in the region.

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The latest designation marks a reversal from Biden administration’s 2021 decision to remove the Houthis from the terrorist list, a move that was made in light of humanitarian concerns and the necessity for the diplomatic engagement in the protected civil war.

The Shia Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, have been embroiled in a violent struggle against the internationally recognised Sunni-led government in the Shia-majority Yemen since 2014.

The group, backed from Iran, has been accused of human rights abuses. It regularly conducts attacks against Saudi Arabia and ships passing through the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabian government has been leading a coalition against the Houthis in Yemen since 2015, backed by the US and other powerful regional states. The small country has been blockaded by the Saudi-led coalition, leading to catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Yemeni kids have been starving to death due to widespread famine and aid unable to get in. In 2018, a Saudi-led airstrike killed over 25 boys in a school bus. According to the Human Rights Watch, 13 boys were wounded, while parents reported that they were unable to even retrieve body parts of their slain children from the wreckage.

Houthis have also pledged loyalty to the Palestinian plight in Gaza, attacking Israel several times with drones during the latter’s siege of Gaza since 2023.

Trump’s decision to reclassify Houthis as a terrorist organisation is likely  to further complicate the humanitarian efforts in Yemen, where millions are facing severe food shortage and dire living conditions.

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Iran denounced the action as unfounded and a pretext for imposing humanitarian sanctions on the Yemenis. Iranian officials contend that such unilateral measures undermine international law and jeopardise regional peace and stability.