US President Donald Trump on Wednesday designated Yemen's Houthi movement, known officially as "Ansar Allah", a "foreign terrorist organization", the White House said, Reuters reported.
The move imposes tougher sanctions than those the Joe Biden administration had imposed on the Iran-linked group in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and on US warships defending a critical sea corridor.
"The Houthis' actions threaten the security of US civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime commerce," the White House said in a statement.
According to him, US policy will be to work with regional partners "to eliminate "to reduce the capabilities of "Ansar Allah", to deprive it of resources and thereby end its attacks on American personnel and civilians, on US partners, and on shipping in the Red Sea."