US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designating Yemen's Houthi rebels as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), reversing a Biden-era policy that had removed the group from the State Department's list of global terror groups.
The executive order was issued by Trump on Wednesday.
The move grants the US government additional sanctions authority, giving Trump more tools to go after the Iran-backed Yemeni terror group.
The policy comes after the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, fired ballistic missiles at Israel for months, including as recently as Saturday.
The White House said Trump was directing the US Agency for International Development to "end its relationship with entities that have made payments to the Houthis, or which have opposed international efforts to counter the Houthis while turning a blind eye towards the Houthis' terrorism and abuses".
The Houthis, who came to power in 2015 amid a civil war in Yemen, have wreaked havoc on global shipping since late 2023, which they say is in support of Hamas and the Palestinians following the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers urged former President Joe Biden to reconsider his February 2021 decision to remove the Houthis from the FTO list, a choice that he said was due to humanitarian considerations.
His administration argued that taking the Houthis off the FTO list was necessary for civilians in Yemen to have better access to aid amid a bloody civil war.
In January 2024, Biden added the Houthis to the US list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists -- a designation that is not as strong as the FTO label, and which did not satisfy Capitol Hill lawmakers who sought the higher classification.
In November 2024, Senator Jacky Rosen (Democrat from Nevada) and then-Senator Marco Rubio (Republican from Florida) led a letter calling for Biden to return the Houthis to the FTO list. Rubio is now serving as Trump's Secretary of State.
"The Houthis' activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade," said the text of the executive order, which specifically refers to the Houthis firing more than 300 at Israel since October 2023.
"Supported by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force," the order said, "the Houthis have fired at US Navy warships dozens of times since 2023, endangering American men and women in uniform."
The order also includes a statement of US policy toward the Houthis.
Washington will strive "to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate Ansar Allah's capabilities and operations, deprive it of resources and thereby end its attacks on US personnel and civilians, US partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea," according to the executive order.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.