Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently re-designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, has been at the forefront of U.S. efforts to counter their activities. The State Department imposed sanctions on seven senior members of the group for smuggling military-grade weapons into Yemen. They were also allegedly negotiating weapons deals with Russia.
Houthi Attacks Disrupt Global Shipping
The Houthis, widely known as Ansar Allah, have significantly disrupted maritime trade since the outbreak of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have raised freight costs, increased insurance premiums, and forced ships to take lengthy detours.
While the Biden administration had removed the Houthis from the foreign terrorist organization list, Trump’s administration reinstated the designation earlier this month following repeated Houthi attacks on U.S. and allied vessels.
“Oopsie…Too Late” Trump Administration Uses Alien Enemies Act for Mass Deportations
Trump Warns Iran and the Houthis
Trump issued a strong warning to both the Houthis and Iran, emphasizing that American forces would not tolerate further aggression.
