The White House announced that U.S. president Donald Trump re-designated Yemen’s Houthi Movement, known officially as Ansar Allah as a “foreign terror organization” on Wednesday.

The Biden administration had imposed harsher economic sanctions on the Iran-aligned groups in response to their attacks against commercial shipping in Red Sea, and U.S. Warships protecting the critical maritime chokepoint.

Some experts believe that the decision could have serious implications for those who are seen to be aiding the Houthis. This includes some aid agencies.

The White House issued a statement saying that "the Houthis' actions threaten the safety of American civilians, military personnel, and regional partners as well as the stability of the global maritime trade."

Since November 2023, the Houthis who control most Yemen have launched more than 100 attacks against ships that travel through the Red Sea. They claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians regarding Israel's conflict against Hamas. The Houthis have sunk at least two ships, taken another one and killed four seafarers.

The attacks disrupted the global shipping industry, forcing companies to take longer and more costly journeys in southern Africa. This has been going on for over a year.

The group is targeting the Gulf of Aden and southern Red Sea, which are connected by the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a chokepoint connecting the Horn of Africa to the Middle East.

Under Biden's administration, the U.S. Military sought to intercept Houthi attacks to protect commercial traffic. They also conducted periodic strikes to reduce Houthi military capability. It did not, however, target the group's leaders.

Joe Biden dropped Trump's terrorist classifications at the beginning of his presidency in 2021 to address humanitarian concerns within Yemen. In response to the Red Sea attacks last year, Biden designated the group as "Specially Defined Global Terrorist". His administration resisted applying the more severe FTO designation.

Oxfam, a British charity, said that the move would worsen Yemeni civilians' suffering by disrupting imports of vital goods such as food, medicine and fuel.

Scott Paul, Oxfam's director for peace and security said that the Trump administration was aware of the consequences, but decided to go forward regardless. They will be responsible for any hunger or disease that follows.

David Schenker was the assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the first Trump Administration. He said that Trump's decision on Wednesday was a clear, early response to what he called one of Iran's most important proxy forces in Middle East.

Schenker said that, "While redesignation is unlikely to have an impact on group behavior, it does suggest the new administration's desire to not induce (or cajole), the Iranians into negotiations by blandishment."

The Trump administration stated that the U.S. would work with regional allies to eliminate Houthi capability, deprive them of resources, "and thus end their attacks on U.S. civilians and personnel, U.S. partner countries, and maritime traffic in the Red Sea."

White House: The designation will trigger a wide review of U.N. partner organizations, non-governmental organisations and contractors working in Yemen.

The White House announced that "the President will direct USAID not to continue its relationship with entities who have paid the Houthis or have opposed international efforts against the Houthis and turned a blind-eye to their terrorism and abuses."

In recent days, the Houthis have indicated that they are reducing their attacks in Red Sea after a multi-phased cease fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday, after more than a full year of capturing the Galaxy Leader off the coast of Yemen, the group freed the crew.

(source: Reuters)