President Joe Biden’s administration is set to re-designate the Houuthis, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, as an official terrorist organization after removing them from the list shortly after Biden took office.
The announcement is expected to come as soon as Wednesday, after the group has launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Red Sea over the last few months.
Last week, Biden called the group a terrorist organization.
“Nothing to update yet on the FTO designation,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. “We’re still in the process of reviewing it.”
The United States launched airstrikes against the terrorist organization last week, in coordination with multiple other nations.
“This multinational action targeted radar systems, air defense systems, and storage and launch sites for one way attack unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. “These strikes have no association with and are separate from Operation Prosperity Guardian, a defensive coalition of over 20 countries operating in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.”
