The Houthi militant organization, commonly referred to as Ansarallah, was recently formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government.
Since the early 2000s, the Iranian-backed organization has operated in Yemen and contributed significantly to regional instability.
In reaction to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, the Houthis intensified their attacks on commercial and navy boats in the Red Sea in November 2023.
In January 2024, the United States declared Ansarallah to be a terrorist organization, and Canada now follows suit.
The US and Britain, Canada’s allies, launched a number of attacks against Houthi targets early this year before the decision to name the Houthis. The group’s operations endanger civilian lives and global supply networks, particularly in the Red Sea, a vital maritime route, Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.
Under Canadian law, the classification has legal ramifications, including the possibility of criminal prosecution for anyone who engage with designated firms.
Entry restrictions into Canada may also be imposed on anybody connected to Ansarallah.
Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are two examples of other terrorist organizations with whom the Houthis have traditionally maintained links.
The escalating regional violence is reflected in the group’s ongoing Red Sea attacks and recent missile strikes on Israel. Since 2014, the Houthis have dominated a sizable portion of northern Yemen and have been engaged in a protracted struggle for control against the internationally recognized government of Yemen.
Over 150,000 people have been murdered in direct combat in the current civil conflict, while the UN estimates that another 227,000 people have perished from starvation and other war-related causes.
