Houthis terrorist re-designation prompt Yemen strikes

The United States announced earlier on Wednesday that it would return the Houthis to a list of ‘terrorist’ entities

WASHINGTON, United States — American forces targeted 14 missiles that were ready to launch in Yemen, the US military said after Washington re-designated the Iran-backed Houthi rebels as a “terrorist” entity for their attacks on merchant vessels.

The Houthis — who have already faced multiple rounds of air strikes in response to their targeting of international shipping — struck a US-owned bulk cargo carrier in the wake of the designation announcement and vowed to continue attacks they say are in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

US forces “conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen,” Central Command said in a statement.

“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting US forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves,” CENTCOM said.

Hani Kayed, a 44-year-old resident of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, told AFP he heard an explosion at around 2:16 a.m. in the east of the city near the airport.

Hodeida and the city of Taez were among the targets of the first round of US and UK strikes in Yemen last week. Huthi media outlet Al-Masirah TV said both were hit again in the latest strikes, along with three other areas.

The United States announced earlier on Wednesday that it would return the Houthis to a list of “terrorist” entities.

“The Department of State today is announcing the designation of Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, effective 30 days from today,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

“During the 30-day implementation delay, the US government will conduct robust outreach to stakeholders, aid providers, and partners who are crucial to facilitating humanitarian assistance and the commercial import of critical commodities in Yemen,” he said.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the 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 said in a statement.