Biden Calls Houthis Terrorists, Says Formal Label Is Irrelevant

US removed formal terror designation for Houthis in 2021
Iran-backed group’s shipping attacks prompted US airstrikes

Joe Biden
Photographer: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

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By Jordan Fabian and Akayla Gardner

January 12, 2024 at 8:39 PM UTC

Updated on

January 12, 2024 at 10:22 PM UTC

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US President Joe Biden said he believes Yemen-based Houthi rebels that have attacked Red Sea shipping are a terrorist organization, though he didn’t think officially designating the group as such would make a difference.

“I think they are,” Biden said Friday when asked by reporters if he would be willing to call them a terror organization.