The U.S. State Department on Tuesday implemented the designation of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), following President Donald Trump’s directive earlier this year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move was necessary as Houthi attacks threaten American personnel, regional security, and global maritime trade.
“The United States will not tolerate any country engaging with terrorist organizations like the Houthis in the name of practicing legitimate international business,” Rubio stated.
The designation raises fears of worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, as aid groups warn that importers may avoid the country due to U.S. sanctions.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric cautioned that limiting access to essential supplies could have “devastating humanitarian consequences” for 19 million Yemenis in need.
BIMCO security official Jakob Larsen warned the move could escalate regional tensions, affecting shipping routes in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have launched over 100 attacks since November 2023 on commercial ships and U.S. naval forces, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The group has sunk two vessels, seized another, and killed at least four seafarers.
They have also targeted Israel with missile and drone strikes.
In January, Houthi leaders warned they would resume attacks if an Israel-Hamas ceasefire failed.
The FTO designation marks a sharp policy shift. While Trump initially labeled the Houthis a terrorist group in 2021, former President Joe Biden reversed the decision, citing humanitarian concerns.
In 2023, Biden designated the Houthis as "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" (SDGT) but stopped short of the full FTO classification.
Now, under Trump’s directive, the harsher designation has been reinstated, imposing tougher economic penalties on the group.
With shipping disruptions ongoing and uncertainty over the Gaza ceasefire, experts warn the security situation in the Red Sea remains volatile.
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For decades, the factory taught the battlefield. Ukraine is now reversing the lesson.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly hit an oil depot in Ust-Labinsk and a military site near St. Petersburg, causing a fire but no casualties, according to local Russian authorities.
In a workshop surrounded by the wreckage of war, workers in Gaza are giving a second life to small leisure boats once used for family outings and swimming trips.
Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed, and three others were injured after two cargo vessels were hit in a drone attack in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, as Russia blamed Ukraine for the strike.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly hit an oil depot in Ust-Labinsk and a military site near St. Petersburg, causing a fire but no casualties, according to local Russian authorities.
The United States has approved the possible sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, as Wellington moves to strengthen its armed forces.
The United States has announced an additional $38 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as health officials warn that the virus could spread further without stronger action.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
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