US mulls designating Yemen’s Houthis a terrorist organization after ship seizure

The United States said Tuesday it was considering designating Yemen’s Houthi militia a terrorist organization after its seizure of an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the Red Sea.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that “in light of ... the piracy of a ship in international waters, we have begun a review of potential terrorist designations and we’ll be considering other options together with our allies and partners as well.”

Kirby said the Houthis’ seizure of the ship was a flagrant violation of international law and said Iran was complicit.

Kirby’s comment was in reaction to the Houthis’ seizure of a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

He called on the Houthis to release the ship and the crew.

Israeli ships are a “legitimate target,” Yemen’s Houthi militia warned on Monday, after its seizure of an Israel-linked cargo vessel opened a new dimension in the Gaza war.

Sunday’s capture of the Galaxy Leader and its 25 international crew came days after the Iran-backed Houthis threatened to target Israeli shipping over the Israel-Hamas war.

The Houthis, declaring themselves part of the “axis of resistance” of Iran’s allies and proxies, have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel.

The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader is operated by a Japanese firm but has links to Israeli businessman Abraham “Rami” Ungar.

The Houthis said the capture was in retaliation for Israel’s war against Hamas, sparked by the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials.

More than 13,000 people have since been killed in Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the health ministry there says.