Australia Labels Yemeni Houthis as Terrorist Organisation

The Australian Government has officially labeled the Yemeni Houthis, known as Ansar Allah, as a terrorist organization, citing their violent activities in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding areas. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus announced the designation, highlighting the group’s actions which include causing civilian casualties, involving hostages, and disrupting maritime navigation, thus posing a threat to global trade. The decision follows advice from Australian security agencies, noting Ansar Allah’s involvement in terrorist attacks, including missile and drone strikes on international shipping initially targeting Israeli vessels, and later, ships of Israeli ally nations. The group’s actions threaten the passage of around 12% of global trade through the Red Sea, potentially requiring ships to reroute around Africa, significantly impacting global transport costs and time. The listing of Ansar Allah alongside other terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and ISIS means that support for this group is a criminal offense in Australia, with penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment.