The United States, along with its coalition partners, designated the Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" (SDGT) organization.
But a senior Houthi official said the U.S. decision will not deter ongoing attacks in crucial maritime routes.
"This decision will not affect our decision, and we will continue to stand with the Palestinian people to stop the massacres in Gaza, just as America does in its support of Israel to continue the massacres," Nasreddin Amer, the deputy information secretary for Ansar Allah, told Newsweek.
The U.S. State Department cited Ansar Allah's actions, said Houthis have "endangered mariners, disrupted the free flow of commerce, and interfered with navigational rights and freedoms" in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the designation aims to hold the group accountable for its "terrorist activities" and suggested a reevaluation if the attacks cease in the designated regions.
In response to the U.S. decision, the United Kingdom, with support from other Western nations, conducted several strikes against Ansar Allah's military capabilities in Yemen. Despite these actions, Ansar Allah continued to claim new attacks, including one against the Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Zogravia in the Red Sea.
Ansar Allah military spokesperson Yahya Saree affirmed their commitment to Yemen's defense.
"The Yemeni Armed Forces continue to take all defensive and offensive measures within the legitimate right to defend dear Yemen and in confirmation of continued practical solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people," Saree said.
This isn't the first time the U.S. has labeled Ansar Allah. The Trump administration designated it a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" (FTO), but President Joe Biden reversed the decision in 2021, citing humanitarian concerns for Yemen.
The recent SDGT designation, according to a senior Biden administration official, will take effect in 30 days, with efforts to ensure humanitarian carveouts to minimize affects on the Yemeni people. The official clarified that the SDGT designation provides flexibility to safeguard humanitarian assistance while targeting Ansar Allah.
Since the beginning of Yemen's civil war almost a decade ago, Ansar Allah has gained control of a significant portion of the country. A cease-fire brokered by the United Nations in April 2022 temporarily halted the conflict between Ansar Allah and the Saudi-backed government.
Despite hopes for resolution, the conflict reignited after a China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year. Ansar Allah, denying direct military assistance from Iran, launched attacks on merchant ships, and directed missiles and drones at Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The U.S. decision drew criticism from Iran, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praising Ansar Allah's actions as an example of fighting for the cause of God during a gathering in Tehran. A senior U.S. administration official expressed hope that the designation would pressure Ansar Allah to distance itself from Iran and engage constructively in the UN-backed Yemen peace process.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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