Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Steve Daines, along with 18 Republican colleagues, have introduced the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. This legislation aims to redesignate Ansarallah, known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). The Houthis are a paramilitary group in Yemen that receives funding from Iran. They are considered a significant security threat to the United States and pose challenges to peace and stability in Israel and the Middle East.

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

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, Tom Cotton, Ted Budd, John Cornyn, Tim Sheehy, Marsha Blackburn, John Hoeven, Mike Crapo, Pete Ricketts, Cynthia Lummis, Shelley Moore Capito, James Lankford, Eric Schmitt, Deb Fischer, Rick Scott, Katie Britt, Susan Collins, and Joni Ernst.

In January 2021, former President Trump designated the Houthis as an FTO. However, President Biden revoked this designation upon taking office while also freezing offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, Cassidy introduced another bill titled the Dismantle Iran’s Proxy Act to designate the Houthis as an FTO once again. In 2023 he cosponsored similar legislation and joined other lawmakers in urging Secretary Anthony Blinken to redesignate the Houthis as an FTO through a formal letter.