U.S. Imposes Sanctions Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Vessels

The Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group has increased its attacks on commercial vessels, prompting the U.S. to consider reclassifying it as a foreign terrorist organization.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, launching missiles and drones from territory they control. The U.S. Navy has intercepted these attacks, but has so far avoided military retaliation.
The Houthis, who seized control of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have increased their attacks since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. They have insisted that Israel is their target.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions against 13 individuals and companies believed to be providing financial support to the Houthis through the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities.
The Houthis are part of Iran's 'axis of resistance', a network of Sunni and Shia Muslim groups and governments in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq.
The U.S. is considering reclassifying the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, a move that was reversed by the Biden administration due to concerns about its impact on Yemenis' access to basic commodities.