US May Designate Iran-Backed Houthis a Terror Organization Following Ship Hijacking

The Galaxy Leader is seen at the port of Koper, Slovenia, on Sept. 16, 2008. Kristijan Bracun/AP Photo

The Biden administration may designate the Iran-backed Houthis as a terrorist organization following the rebel group’s seizure of a cargo vessel in the Red Sea.

The announcement follows the Nov. 19 hijacking of the Galaxy Leader cargo vessel and the capture of its crew by the radical Islamist group.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the attack was clearly illegal and part of a wider expansion of hostilities throughout the region by the Houthis.

“That seizure of the motor vessel Galaxy Leader is a flagrant violation of international law,” Mr. Kirby said. “In light of that recent targeting of civilians by the Houthis, and now the piracy of a ship in international waters, we have begun a review of potential terrorist designation.”

He added that the “absolutely unacceptable” act was carried out with material support from Iran, and that the administration would also consider “other options” to hit back at the group in consultation with its allies.

“Iran is complicit through its material support and its encouragement of the Houthi forces who conducted the seizure,” Mr. Kirby said.

“The Houthis ought to release that ship immediately, as well as the crew unconditionally.”

Houthis Vow More Attacks

Then-President Donald Trump originally designated the Houthis as a terror group in January 2021. President Joe Biden reversed that decision when he took office the following month.

The group is still considered a terrorist group by several countries in the Middle East, however, including Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Like Hamas, it espouses a radical Islamist ideology that calls for the destruction of Israel, as demonstrated by the group’s slogan, in use since the early 2000s: “God is great, death to the United States, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam.”

It remains unclear just how closely the Galaxy Leader is connected to Israel. While Israeli billionaire Abraham Ungar may be a part-owner through his company Ray Ltd., the vessel was marked with a Bahamian flag and staffed by the Japanese company NYK Line.

NYK Line said that the vessel’s crew members are from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that no Israelis were aboard.

The group nevertheless said that it would continue to target ships linked to Israel until that nation ends its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Houthi leadership shared a viral video that showed members of the group clad in black masks and wielding semi-automatic rifles as they descended on the ship via helicopter and stormed the deck.

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul-Salam said in an online statement that the Israelis only understand “the language of force” and vowed to conduct more attacks in international waters.

“This is the beginning,” he said.

The Houthis said they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their Islamic values,” but didn’t elaborate on what that meant.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.