Secretary of State: US labels Yemeni Houthi movement as foreign terrorist organisation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the US government officially designated the Yemeni Houthi rebel movement, Ansar Allah, as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Rubio stated that the Department of State was fulfilling one of President Trump's first promises after taking office. He added that he was pleased to announce that the Department of State had added Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, to the list of foreign terrorist organisations, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

On January 22, President Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of labeling the Houthi group, Ansar Allah, as a foreign terrorist organisation. The order emphasised that the actions of the Houthis present a direct threat to US citizens in the Middle East, as well as to the safety of US regional allies and the stability of international maritime trade.

The move comes after heightened tensions in the Gaza Strip. Ansar Allah warned that it would target Israeli territory and block vessels associated with Israel from passing through the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait unless military operations in Gaza cease. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on numerous civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In response to these provocations, US authorities announced the formation of an international coalition and initiated a mission aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation and securing the protection of vessels operating in the Red Sea. Subsequently, the US and UK armed forces have conducted regular strikes on Houthi military positions in several provinces of Yemen.

By Naila Huseynova