The Media Line: Trump Reinstates Terrorist Designation for Yemen’s Houthi Movement

By The Media Line Staff

US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday, designating Yemen’s Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization. The decision comes as the Iranian-backed Houthis have intensified attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, citing their support for the Palestinian cause. The president’s order stated that these attacks jeopardize “the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade.”

This marks the second time President Trump has classified the Houthis as a foreign terrorist group. The first designation, made during the president’s first term, prohibited US organizations from providing “material support or resources” to the group, which controls large swaths of Yemen. That decision was swiftly reversed by the Biden administration, citing concerns about its impact on Yemen’s dire humanitarian crisis.

Supporters of the designation argue it is essential to disrupting the Houthis’ financial networks. Critics, however, warn that it could worsen an already catastrophic situation. According to a March 2024 report by the World Food Program, more than 18 million people in Yemen are suffering from severe hunger, with the conflict and economic collapse compounding the crisis.

Scott Paul, Oxfam America’s director of peace and security, criticized the move, noting the adverse effects the designation had during its previous implementation. “Imports of necessities like food, medicine, and fuel all dropped, and the economy fell into further crisis. The humanitarian situation deteriorated,” he said in a statement. Paul added that the Trump administration is aware of these potential consequences but chose to proceed. “They will bear responsibility for the hunger and disease that will follow,” he wrote.

Paul urged the US to explore alternative strategies for holding the Houthis accountable without exacerbating Yemen’s humanitarian plight.