Australia designates Houthis as terrorist organization

The Australian government has officially designated Yemen's Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, as a terrorist organization, the Australian National Security Agency reports.

Effective May 24, 2024, sanctions against the Houthis include freezing assets belonging to the organization and its leaders and a ban on entry to Australia.

Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus stated that the basis for this designation was the "violent attacks in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding regions, hostage-taking, and serious violations of maritime laws in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula."

According to Australian law, listing an organization as terrorist not only leads to the freezing of all associated assets but also criminalizes any support provided to it. Participation in, association with its members, and all forms of assistance or support are punishable by up to 25 years in prison.