The United States government is allegedly considering the idea of redesignating the Houthi rebels as a "terrorist" group following the hijack of a cargo ship in the Red Sea.
In a statement on Tuesday, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby condemned the seizure of the cargo ship. He called it the "piracy of a ship in international waters" and accused the Houthi rebels of "recent targeting of civilians."
Houthi Rebels as Terrorist Group
The incident comes as the Red Sea is home to one of the most vital trade routes in the world through the Strait of Hormuz. United States President Joe Biden's administration formally removed the Houthis from the official list of "foreign terrorist organization" and "specially designated global terrorists in 2021.
It was a move that reversed a decision by his predecessor, Donald Trump, during the latter's presidency. The United Nations and various aid groups criticized the designations, arguing that the restrictions they imposed complicated aid deliveries to war-torn Yemen, as per Aljazeera.
The Houthi rebels are known to have the support of Iran and are in control of large parts of northern Yemen and the capital, Sanaa. The group has carried out attacks on Israel in the last few weeks, launching missiles and drone attacks while threatening to seize Israeli vessels in the Red Sea.
The group's forces raided a ship known as the Galaxy Leader on Sunday and Houthi General Ali Al-Moshki later issued a statement on television. He said that Israeli ships are "legitimate targets" for the group anywhere they are.
The vessel was operated by a Japanese firm and was tied to Israeli businessman Abraham "Rami" Ungar. The crew onboard the ship, which totaled 25 workers from different countries, are still taken hostage by the Houthi rebels.
Kirby said that the seizure of the Galaxy Leader prompted American officials to begin a review of potential terrorist designations. He added that they would be considering other options with allies and partners as well, according to Reuters.
Hijacking of Cargo Ship in the Red Sea
Following the incident with the ship, Iran has denied involvement, and the vessel is believed to have been taken to the Houthi-controlled southern Yemen port of Hodeidah. The region erupted into a civil war after the rebel group, members of the Zaydi sect of Shi'ite Islam, took control of the capital in 2014.
While a ceasefire brokered by the UN collapsed in October 2022, Yemen has enjoyed relative calm as the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia negotiated a settlement. The nation is still considered the worst humanitarian crisis in the world as roughly 21.6 million people are dependent on aid.
The Houthi's chief negotiator and spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam said that Israelis only understand "the language of force" following the seizure of the ship. He said that the detention of the vessel is a practical step that proves the seriousness of the Yemeni armed forces in waging sea battle.
The cargo ship's operator, NYK Line, said that the vessel did not have any cargo at the time of the hijacking. The crew members were said to have come from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico, said the Associated Press.
