Cassidy, Daines Introduce Bill to Redesignate Iran-Backed Houthis as a Terrorist Organization

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), and 18 Republican colleagues introduced the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act to redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The Houthis, a paramilitary organization in Yemen funded by Iran, pose a significant security threat to the United States as well as the peace and stability of Israel and the Middle East.

"The Houthis are a foreign terrorist organization. The United States must designate them accordingly," said Dr. Cassidy. "We must stand with our ally and friend Israel."

Cassidy and Daines were joined by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in cosponsoring the bill.

Background

In January 2021, President Trump designated the Houthis a FTO. After taking office, President Biden revoked the FTO designation while simultaneously freezing offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

This month, Cassidy also introduced the Dismantle Iran's Proxy Act to designate the Houthis as a FTO.

In 2023, Cassidy cosponsored legislation to designate the Houthis as a FTO. He also joined joined colleagues in urging the administration re-designate the Houthis as a FTO in a letter to Secretary Anthony Blinken.

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