- The reappointment comes a day after the US carried out air strikes on the group
- The Houthis hit an American ship with a missile on Monday
- The terror group also fired an anti-ship cruise missile at a US Navy ship
The Biden administration on Wednesday re-designated Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist group, drawing harsh criticism from Republicans who decried the move as not going far enough.
Former President Donald Trump had previously listed Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).
But Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed them from the list in 2021 to make it easier to get humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Three years later, Biden bowed to mounting pressure to re-list the group – as SDGT – only after Houthi rebels attacked US ships in the Red Sea.
Now members of Congress are criticizing Biden for not taking “real action” and waiting years to hold the terrorist group accountable.
Furthermore, the SDTG label to be reimposed on the Houthis does not include more severe sanctions associated with appointment to the FTO list, such as travel restrictions.
House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner told DailyMail.com that Biden “should never have removed” the Houthis’ FTO designation.
“Designating the Houthis as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ only brings sanctions and avoids taking real action,” he added.
Houthi fighters and tribal supporters raise their firearms to protest US-led airstrikes
A Houthi fighter holds his rifle during a ceremony marking the end of his training
“President Trump labeled the Houthi rebels as terrorists. Joe Biden removed the designation in 2021. Now Biden admits the Houthis are ‘terrorists’ after their repeated attacks in the Red Sea,” Texas Rep. reported. Lance Gooden on X.
“Joe Biden continues his 50+ year streak of being wrong on foreign policy!”
New York Rep. Claudia Tenney wrote on X, “President Biden’s decision to designate this as an FTO is long overdue and may be too little, too late.”
Some lawmakers said Biden originally took the Houthis off terrorist lists to ease tensions with Iran.
“Biden gets no credit for undoing one of his first — and worst — reconciliations with Iran,” California Rep. Darrell Issa said.
The Houthi soldiers carry out mock exercises against fake Israeli forces
A Houthi fighter is pictured aboard a cargo ship in the Red Sea
Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma wrote on
“As hostile adversaries test American resolve, American strength is essential to our national security and global stability,” the post continued.
Earlier this week, Houthi forces hit a US ship with a missile as it sailed through the Red Sea.
The group also shot an anti-ship cruise missile at a US destroyer, according to US Central Command.
In retaliation, the US carried out four new strikes on Yemen on Tuesday, targeting anti-ship ballistic missiles used by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
In addition, two US Navy SEALs are missing after conducting regular interdiction missions, intercepting weapons on ships bound for Houthi-controlled Yemen.