Houthi Threat: Impact of Designating Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the Reduction in Attacks
A significant curtailment in Houthi attacks this year follows last year's numerous assaults on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
WASHINGTON - On March 4th, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department's designation of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This action fulfilled one of President Trump's key promises upon taking office.
The designation was based on Executive Order 14175, which outlined the Houthis' activities as a threat to American civilians, personnel in the Middle East, regional partners, and global maritime trade.
The United States emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for countries engaging with terrorist organizations like the Houthis under the guise of legitimate international business.
This designation was executed under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), with FTO designations taking effect upon publication in the Federal Register. Additionally, the Department's Rewards for Justice program offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of Ansarallah's financial mechanisms.
The executive order issued on January 22, 2025, by President Trump laid out the purpose, policy, and implementation plan for this designation. It highlighted the Houthi attacks on U.S. Navy warships, civilian infrastructure, and commercial vessels since 2023. The order also emphasized the support the Houthis received from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the broader threat they posed to global maritime trade and regional stability.
The U.S. policy aimed to cooperate with regional partners to eliminate Ansarallah's capabilities, deprive them of resources, and end their attacks on U.S. personnel, civilians, partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.
The Secretary of State was tasked with submitting a report on the designation of Ansarallah as an FTO and taking appropriate action. The order also mandated a review of entities working with USAID in Yemen to identify any that had made payments to or criticized efforts to counter Ansarallah without documenting their abuses.
Significant Curtailment in Houthi Attacks This Year Following Last Year's Numerous Assaults on Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Vessels:
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