Trump re-designates Houthis as terrorist organization

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to re-designate the Houthis, a Yemen-based militant group, as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)."

According to a fact sheet released by the White House, Trump's executive order reversed the one issued by Joe Biden four years ago that removed the Houthis from the FTO list, undoing a Trump order issued in the final days of his first presidential term.

"As a result of the Biden administration's weak policy, the Houthis have fired at U.S. Navy warships dozens of times, launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure in partner nations, and attacked commercial vessels transiting Bab al-Mandeb more than 100 times," the White House said in the fact sheet.

Wednesday's executive order directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to recommend that the designation take effect within 30 days.

Following the designation, Trump will direct the United States Agency for International Development, after it completes a review, "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." ■