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Experts say this move could have repercussions for those seen as assisting the Houthis, including some humanitarian organizations.

U.S. President Donald Trump decided on Wednesday to reinstate the Yemeni Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, on the list of “Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” according to a statement issued by the White House. This decision signals a hardening of U.S. policies toward the Tehran-backed group.

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This move imposes stricter sanctions than those imposed by the previous administration under President Joe Biden on the Iran-aligned group, in response to their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and on U.S. warships involved in defending this critical waterway.

Supporters of the move argue that it is overdue, but some experts warn that it could have consequences for those seen as helping the Houthis, including some humanitarian organizations.

The White House stated in a release, “The Houthis‘ activities threaten the safety of civilians and U.S. personnel in the Middle East, the security of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade.”

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Commenting on the designation, Yemeni Presidential Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi said that Yemenis “have been waiting for this decision for a long time.” He added in a tweet on the X platform, “Yemenis have welcomed this decision, especially those who lost their lives, those who were tortured, unjustly imprisoned, whose homes were blown up, and who were displaced across the world. Justice and accountability for the Houthi criminal actions through this terrorist designation open the path to peace and stability in Yemen and the region.”

He continued, “We thank President Trump for this historic decision. We welcome his commitment to ending wars, deterring terrorist organizations, and reaffirm our commitment to cooperate with the U.S. administration and the international community to implement the designation decision while ensuring that humanitarian aid flows without obstruction.”

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Al-Alimi reiterated, “There is an urgent need for a collective global approach to support the Yemeni government and not delay the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions, especially Resolution 2216, because complacency with enemies of peace means the continuation of terrorist actions by these militias, some of the most brutal in history.”

The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have carried out over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, claiming this was in solidarity with Palestinians since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. They have sunk two ships, seized another, and killed at least four sailors.

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These attacks disrupted global shipping traffic, forcing companies to reroute their shipments to longer and more costly routes around southern Africa for over a year.

The group has targeted the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and more recently the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a busy crossing point between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. military had sought to intercept Houthi attacks to protect commercial traffic and carried out periodic strikes to reduce the Houthis‘ military capabilities. However, it did not target the group’s leadership.

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At the beginning of his presidency in 2021, Biden lifted the Trump administration’s terrorist designation of the group to address humanitarian concerns in Yemen. In response to the Red Sea attacks, Biden last year classified the group as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization. However, his administration did not place it on the stricter Foreign Terrorist Organization list.

British charity Oxfam stated that this move would worsen the suffering of Yemeni civilians and disrupt vital imports of food, medicine, and fuel.

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Scott Paul, Director of Peace and Security Affairs at Oxfam America, stated in a statement: “The Trump administration is aware of these consequences but has chosen to proceed with it anyway, and will bear responsibility for the hunger and disease that will follow.”

David Schenker, who was Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in Trump‘s first administration, said that Wednesday’s move by the president was a clear and early step in responding to what he described as one of the main forces operating in the Middle East on behalf of Iran.

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He added, “While we doubt that the reclassification will have a positive impact on the group’s actions, the move indicates that the new administration is not seeking to coax the Iranians into negotiations through flattery.”

The Trump administration stated that the United States would work with regional partners “to eliminate the capabilities and operations of Ansar Allah and deny them resources, thereby ending their attacks on U.S. individuals, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.”

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The White House also indicated that the classification would drive a comprehensive review of UN partners, NGOs, and contractors operating in Yemen.

It added, “The president will direct the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to end its relationships with entities that have made payments to the Houthis, or that have obstructed international efforts to confront the group while turning a blind eye to Houthi terrorism and violations.”

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In recent days, the group has indicated that it has reduced its attacks in the Red Sea following a multi-phase ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Earlier on Wednesday, they released the crew of the commercial vessel Galaxy Leader after more than a year of detaining the Bahamian-flagged ship off the coast of Yemen.

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