The State Department has re-designated Yemen’s Houthi militant group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), reversing a Biden-era policy that President Donald Trump has blamed for emboldening the group’s attacks on U.S. forces, allies, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.
“Today’s action taken by the State Department demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, the safety of the American people, and the security of the United States,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a March 4 statement. The FTO designation imposes a travel ban on members of the group and authorizes sanctions on those who provide material support.
