The US move to reclassify the Houthis as terrorists was intended to increase pressure on the group, but appears to have failed to deter them.
In a defiant response to the US decision to once again designate Yemen's Houthis as a “terrorist” entity, the Iran-backed group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a US ship.
The move to reclassify the Houthis was intended to increase pressure on the group, but appears to have failed to deter their military actions as they have vowed to continue their attacks.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the decision to designate the Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Group, saying it would be effective 30 days after the announcement.
Despite this, the Houthis were undeterred and proclaimed responsibility for attacking an American ship, the Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden with what they described as “a series of appropriate missiles.”
The Houthis justified their continued attacks by expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is in conflict with Hamas. They stressed that they would persist in attacking ships they believe are linked to Israel or heading to ports in occupied Palestine.
Responding to the Houthis' claim, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the terrorist designation was a crucial tool to hinder the group's access to financial markets and prevent terrorist financing. Sullivan added that the United States would reconsider the designation if the Houthis ceased their attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The United States and Britain have been putting military and diplomatic pressure on the Houthis, attacking sites and advocating for an international coalition to safeguard shipping from rebel attacks. Recent actions include the destruction of anti-ship missiles in Yemen and airstrikes against Houthi-held locations.
This move to redesignate the Houthis comes after the Biden administration reversed the group's terrorist designations in 2021, raising concerns among aid groups that the designation would hamper humanitarian efforts in Yemen.
The United States now says the renewed designation offers greater flexibility to ensure the well-being of Yemeni civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
