The State Department has officially designated Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), following President Trump's executive order. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that terrorist designations are crucial in the fight against terrorism and that the US will not tolerate countries that support terrorist organizations like the Houthis. The Houthis have targeted American and Israeli vessels in the Red Sea since 2023. Former President Biden had reversed the FTO designation, but the Trump White House criticized this decision and vowed to eliminate the Houthis' capabilities.