On January 22, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order initiating the process to designate Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This decision reflects growing concerns about the group’s activities and their threat to regional stability, global maritime trade, and U.S. interests.

Background on Ansar Allah

Ansar Allah, supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), has been a key player in Yemen’s ongoing conflict. Since 2014-2015, the group has seized control of major Yemeni cities, displacing the legitimate government and engaging in a protracted civil war. The Houthis have been implicated in a series of hostile actions, including:

  • Repeated attacks on U.S. Navy warships since 2023.
  • Launching over 300 projectiles at Israel since October 2023.
  • Targeting civilian infrastructure, including airports in Saudi Arabia and the deadly 2022 attacks in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Over 100 attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, resulting in the loss of civilian lives and disruptions to global trade.

These actions have heightened security risks in the Middle East and disrupted critical maritime trade routes, contributing to global economic instability.

Objectives of the Executive Order

The executive order outlines a clear U.S. policy to:

  1. Eliminate Ansar Allah’s Operational Capabilities: By targeting the group’s resources and infrastructure, the U.S. aims to weaken its ability to conduct attacks.
  2. Protect U.S. and Regional Interests: Ensuring the safety of American personnel, regional allies, and international maritime trade.
  3. Strengthen Cooperation with Partners: Collaborating with regional allies to counter the group’s influence and activities.

Implementation Steps

The order mandates a multi-step process for designating Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization:

  1. Report Submission: Within 30 days, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury, must submit a report recommending the FTO designation.
  2. Designation and Action: Following the report, the Secretary of State will take all necessary steps to finalize the designation within 15 days.
  3. Review of USAID Partnerships: Post-designation, a joint review by the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator will identify entities working in Yemen that may have ties to Ansar Allah. Projects, grants, or contracts found to benefit the group will be terminated.

The designation of Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has significant political implications. It aims to curb the group’s ability to carry out attacks while signaling the U.S. commitment to regional stability. The executive order underscores the U.S. government’s resolve to address threats posed by Ansar Allah to regional and global security.

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