The US added the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to the list of ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ on Wednesday, as the militants targeted their second US-operated vessel in the Red Sea this week, and the US military launched retaliatory strikes.
Since November, attacks on ships in the region by the Iran-allied Houthis have intensified amid Israel’s conflict with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.
Overview
US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said in a statement, “In response to these continuing threats and attacks, the US announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
Sullivan said this designation is an important tool to “impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.”
According to a press statement released by the US State Department,
“Ansarallah is being designated for having committed or attempted to commit, posing a significant risk of committing, or having participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the US.”
US designates Yemen’s Houthis as a ‘terrorist’ group
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 17, 2024
The White House’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan made the announcement, saying it was a response to Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
“Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United… pic.twitter.com/UtefouVDgj
Reports indicate that Houthi militants have launched unprecedented attacks on US military personnel and ships operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Sullivan said, “These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.”
“They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” he added.
Furthermore, Sullivan stated that if the Houthis cease attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the US will reconsider the designation.
He indicated that the designation will go into effect in 30 days (i.e., 16 February) to ensure that sufficient “humanitarian carve-outs” are in place so that the US operation targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen.
“We are sending a clear message: commercial shipments into Yemeni ports on which the Yemeni people rely for food, medicine and fuel should continue and are not covered by our sanctions,” Sullivan remarked.
In his concluding remarks, Sullivan stated, citing US President Joe Biden, that “the US will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce.”
US, Yemen Continue Attacks in Red Sea
The US Central Command wrote on X, that “the US conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen.”
“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves,” CENTCOM said.
U.S. CENTCOM Strikes Houthi Terrorist Missile Launchers
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 18, 2024
In the context of ongoing multi-national efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on U.S. and partner maritime traffic in the Red Sea, on Jan. 17 at approximately 11:59 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central… pic.twitter.com/MMCQbzr1f7
Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces declared the launch of a targeting operation against the American ship “GENCO PICARDY” in the Gulf of Aden with a number of naval missiles.
The Houthis claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to expand their attacks to include US ships in response to American and British strikes on the group’s positions.
Houthi-controlled news agency Saba cited the Yemeni Armed Forces statement as saying that, “the Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to target all sources of threat in the Arab and Red seas within the legitimate right to defend dear Yemen and to continue supporting the oppressed Palestinians.”
“The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that a response to the American and British attacks is inevitably coming, and that any new attack will not remain without response and punishment,” the statement went on.
“Its [Yemen] operations against Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine will not stop until the aggression stops and the siege imposed on the steadfast Palestinians in Gaza Strip is lifted,” the statement concluded.