Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation on Tuesday aimed at redesignating the Houthis, an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Yemen, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act (S. 159), co-sponsored by 19 of Daines’ Republican colleagues, states that the reclassification will allow the United States to take more forceful action against Ansar Allah, more commonly known as the Houthis.
Biden’s reclassification of the organization as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in January 2024 does not allow the U.S. government to implement full sanctions “and has not deterred Houthi aggression,” according to a release from Daines’ office.
“Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the Houthis have attacked U.S. allies more than 100 times,” Daines said. “With the start of the Trump administration, it’s time to get serious about counterterrorism again and send a message to the Iranian regime that the U.S. stands with Israel and will not tolerate our allies being attacked and shipping routes in the Middle East being disrupted.”
“Designating the Houthis as an FTO will enable the Trump administration to bring the full weight of U.S. sanctions in order to restore peace and order in the Middle East,” Daines continued.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization on Jan. 19, 2021, during the last few days of Trump’s first term. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken reversed the designation under the Biden administration less than a month later.
The Houthis have launched many projectiles into Israel in 2025 already, causing millions of Israelis to shelter in place. However, the terror group recently announced that they would cease their attacks against Israel following the recent ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
