The United States government has officially re-designated Yemen's Houthi rebels as a "terrorist" organization, known as the Ansarallah group, and classified them as "specially designated global terrorists." The announcement comes after the US launched strikes on Houthi targets in response to their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which have caused disruptions to maritime trade between Asia and Europe.

The Iran-allied Houthi rebels have claimed that their attacks are primarily targeting ships with links to Israel, and they vow to continue until Israel's war on Gaza ceases. In response to these ongoing threats and attacks, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the designation is a crucial tool to impede terrorist funding, restrict the group's access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.

However, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam remains defiant, stating that the designation will not hinder their operations in preventing Israeli ships or ships heading to Israel from crossing strategic waterways such as the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He affirmed the group's unwavering support for the Palestinian people.

This is not the first time the United States has classified the Houthis as a "terrorist" entity. Former President Donald Trump's administration had previously labeled them as a "foreign terrorist organization," despite objections from human rights and humanitarian aid groups. However, in February 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delisted the Houthis as a "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorists" to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Yemen.

The primary reason for reinstating the designation is to protect international commerce. This move will trigger sanctions against any entity providing material support to the Houthis, potentially impacting Iran, their main backer. Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, DC, explained that the designation will result in member bans, frozen Houthi funds in US financial institutions, and increased sanctions, while attempts will be made to minimize the impact on Yemen's vulnerable population.

US officials are keen to ensure that the Yemeni people do not suffer further as a result of this decision. The statement from Jake Sullivan emphasized that commercial shipments into Yemeni ports, crucial for food, medicine, and fuel supplies, will not be covered by the sanctions. Secretary Blinken added that during the 30-day implementation delay, robust outreach will be conducted to engage stakeholders, aid providers, and partners facilitating humanitarian assistance and trade in Yemen.

However, aid officials are expressing concern over the impact of this designation. Oxfam America Associate Director Scott Paul warned that this decision will introduce additional uncertainty and threats to Yemenis already trapped in one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. The aid community will closely monitor the situation to assess the ultimate consequences of this designation on the flow of critical aid and the well-being of Yemen's 32 million people.