U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his “intent to designate Ansarallah – sometimes referred to as the Huthis – as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO)… and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity”. “I also intend to designate three of Ansarallah’s leaders… as SDGTs”, he added. Describing the Huthis as “a deadly Iran-backed militia group”, Pompeo maintained that “the designations are intended to hold Ansarallah accountable for its terrorist acts… [and] advance efforts to achieve a peaceful, sovereign and united Yemen that is both free from Iranian interference and at peace with its neighbours”. He further urged Iran “to stop smuggling weapons to Ansarallah in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and to stop enabling Ansarallah’s aggressive acts against Yemen and towards its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia”. Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision, while Iran called it an impediment to “a political solution and peace talks”.