Senators Call for Labeling Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organization

Six Democratic and Republican senators urged the Biden administration last week to again designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), citing the Yemen-based group’s attacks on commercial ships, U.S. forces deployed overseas and Israel, and its obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries to Yemeni civilians.

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators said the designation would “open up economic tools to target the Houthis’ weapons procurement networks and manufacturing capabilities.” It would also make individuals or entities providing material support to the group liable for criminal prosecution and subject to sanctions, the letter says.

“Designating the Houthis as an FTO would impose meaningful costs on the Houthis and degrade their ability to commit acts of terrorism,” the senators wrote.

Although the administration in January labeled the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (see 2401170025 and 2402280003), the senators argued that “that designation is nowhere near as impactful as an FTO listing.” While the administration has said an FTO designation, which it revoked in 2021, would make it harder for humanitarian groups to operate in war-ravaged Yemen (see 2102100016), the senators insisted that a relisting “would not inherently disrupt the delivery of international aid to Yemeni civilians.”

The letter was led by Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and co-signed by Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. The State Department declined to comment on the letter.