The United States qualified again on Wednesday the Houthis terrorist organization (Specially Listed Global Terrorist Entity – SDGT), following their barrage of attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea which has caused serious disruption to global trade. But Washington has promised pro-Iranian Shiite rebels it will “immediately” review the designation if they stop the attacks.

In a statement, the White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, he mentioned that “in recent months, Yemen-based Houthi fighters have engaged in unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international naval vessels operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks are the definition of terrorism. They have endangered US personnel, civilian sailors and our partners, endangered global trade and threatened freedom of navigation.”

»Today, in response to these ongoing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarala, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This designation is an important tool in preventing the Houthis from financing terrorism, further limiting their access to financial markets, and holding them accountable for their actions. If the Houthis stop their attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reconsider this designation.

“The decision requires US financial institutions to freeze Houthi funds and their members to be banned from the country.”

Shortly after the war in Gaza began, the Houthis began launching missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Yemeni rebels have declared that any merchant ships they believe to be linked to Israel, or its allies, will “become a legitimate target for the armed forces”.

Washington had removed the Houthis in February 2021 from the list of terrorist organizations it compiles. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken cited the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen as the reason for the decision.