Biden redesignates Yemeni Houthis as terrorists after taking them off terror list one day after taking office in 2021

The Biden administration redesignated Houthi rebels as specially designated global terrorists (SDGT) on Wednesday, according to an administration official. 

The Biden administration previously deleted the Houthis’ SDGT designation and de-listed it as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in February 2021 one day after he got into office, undoing the Trump administration's decision to label the group as such during its final weeks in power.  

Secretary of State Antony Blinken justified the decision at the time by saying such a characterization could threaten the ability to deliver crucial help to the people of Yemen. Blinken said it was "a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.” 

A press release from the State Department Wednesday explained the redesignation of the Houthis as a terrorist group and states, “This designation seeks to promote accountability for the group’s terrorist activities.  If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will reevaluate this designation.” 

The anticipated reversal comes after the U.S. military launched numerous strikes in Yemen against anti-ship ballistic missiles in a Houthi-controlled part of the country. These strikes were said to be in response to attacks by the rebel group that caused issues for shipping in the Red Sea. 

Joe Biden responded by decrying Yemen's Houthi forces as a "terrorist" group after American and British warplanes, submarines and ships banded together to launch dozens of airstrikes in Yemen recently. 

The Houthi militia movement has threatened to deliver a "strong and effective response." 

According to a U.S. official, the military retaliated "against four Houthi ballistic missiles that posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships," per the Daily Mail.  

The strikes reportedly came a day after Yemeni rebels launched an offense against an American cargo ship on Monday.  

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan put out a statement Wednesday addressing the designation situation. 

"Over the past months, Yemen-based Houthi militants have engaged in unprecedented attacks against United States military forces and international maritime vessels operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," he said. "These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism. They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms." 

"Today, in response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist," he continued. " This designation is an important tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, further restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions.  If the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the United States will immediately reevaluate this designation." 

Sullivan noted that the "designation will take effect 30 days from now, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen," and concluded that "the United States will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce."