The United States has declared the Houthi rebel group a terrorist organisation, following a series of drone and missile attacks by the Yemen-based group on both US military ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, NBC News reported. 

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasised the severity of the attacks, stating: “These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.”

The Houthi’s declaration of support for Hamas and subsequent missile launches at Israel, coupled with ongoing bombardments in the Red Sea, prompted swift responses from the US and its allies. Strikes targeted Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, a move aimed at curbing their influence.

Sullivan explained that the designation serves as a crucial tool to impede terrorist funding to the Houthis, restrict their access to financial markets, and hold them accountable for their actions. 

However, he clarified that if the Houthi group ceases its attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the US will promptly reevaluate the designation.

The designation is set to take effect in 30 days, allowing the US to mitigate the impact on the people of Yemen. Sullivan emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Yemeni population does not bear the brunt of the consequences of this decision.