by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The U.S. on Tuesday re-designated Yemen’s Houthi militant group, Ansarallah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reversing Biden’s 2021 decision after over a year of attacks on U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.
President Trump initiated the process to designate the Houthis as an FTO shortly after taking office, but it became official only after U.S. State Department approval.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated he was fulfilling a Trump campaign promise following hundreds of Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“Today’s action taken by the State Department demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, the safety of the American people, and the security of the United States,” Rubio said. “Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.”
In January 2021, before leaving office, the Trump administration designated the Houthis an FTO, citing attacks on Saudi Arabia and Aden. The Biden administration reversed it a month later, citing humanitarian aid concerns amid Yemen’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Former officials said the Biden administration considered re-designating the Houthis as an FTO last year but left the decision for the incoming Trump administration.
The designation is the administration’s latest move to counter Iran amid ongoing Middle East conflicts. While the Houthis operate as a regional proxy for Tehran, targeting both commercial and military vessels, U.S. officials view them as independent actors who may not always follow Iran’s directives.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have issued threats to launch attacks on Tel Aviv if hostilities in Gaza reignite, further escalating regional tensions and underscoring their involvement in the broader conflict.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused U.S. President Donald J. Trump of seeking to annex his country through a “dumb trade war.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told his nation that France and Europe should prepare for war as Russian aggression “knows no borders.” In televised remarks, Macron said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will not stop at Ukraine and is a direct threat to France and Europe.”
Indonesia’s authorities struggle to contain flooding in the capital, Jakarta, and surrounding areas that killed at least one person and displaced thousands.
President Donald Trump met with eight individuals on Wednesday who had been held captive by Hamas. Immediately following the meeting, he issued a stern and final warning to the terrorist organization and demanded the immediate release of all remaining hostages, stating that it would be “over for you” if this demand was not met. He also warned of “hell to pay” if the situation was not taken seriously and declared that he was equipping Israel with everything necessary to destroy the terrorist group.
Ukraine faced more troubles at the frontlines Wednesday as the U.S. paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off vital information that helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders.
The European Union has unveiled an unprecedented $841 billion “ReArm Europe Plan” amid fears the United States will dramatically reduce its military commitment to the old continent.
A group of 77 retired U.S. generals and admirals are calling on President Donald Trump to support Israel so they can “finish the job” against Iran and its terrorist networks. They urge action before Iran crosses “the nuclear threshold” and to dismantle its nuclear program before it becomes too late.