The U.S. has designated the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization, a move announced Tuesday that fulfills a promise made during Donald Trump’s presidency.

According to U.S. officials, the U.S. “will not tolerate” any nation engaging in business with “terrorist organizations such as the Houthis.”

A statement indicated that this action by the State Department reflects the government’s dedication to safeguarding national security interests, the safety of Americans, and the overall security of the United States. The statement further emphasized the crucial role of terrorist designations in combating terrorism and hindering support for terrorist activities.

This decision follows more than 100 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. The U.S. military has been actively defending its warships patrolling the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, providing escorts and preventing Houthi attacks on commercial ships.

In January, an executive order formally designated Yemen’s Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, citing their activities as a threat to the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade.

The Trump administration initially added the Houthis to the foreign terrorist organization list, but President Joe Biden reversed this decision within a month of taking office in 2021 to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen.

Following Trump’s suggestion last month to remove Palestinians from Gaza, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi threatened military action against the U.S. and Israel in a televised address.

Internally, there has been ongoing debate regarding the most effective strategy for countering the Houthis.

Some advocate for a traditional counterterrorism approach, involving targeted strikes against individuals planning and executing attacks, while others favor a more defensive strategy focused on Houthi infrastructure and weapons storage facilities.

’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

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