Description: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order which redesignates the Yemenis Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization as opposed to former President Biden’s designation of a Special Designated Terrorist Organization. The executive order underscored Houthi activities in the Bab al Mandab straight and their attacks on maritime trade and shipping and warned NGO’s and other organizations to review their financing and support to Yemeni’s organization affiliated with the Houthis. The Houthis are sponsored by Iran and are estimated to have around 100,000 fighters under arms. Even though several operations were conducted to subdue the Houthi organization militarily, they have continued aerial bombardment on targets in the region supported by the kidnapping of ships.
Impact: The redesignation only underscores the official stance of the US towards the organization. The Houthis control large parts of Yemen are well armed and financially sponsored and would most definitely continue to attack and disrupt maritime trade in the Bab al Mandab straight. Extensive US intervention in the region hasn’t been announced although the redesignation could prompt special military operations against the Houthis in the region.