Saudi Arabia urges EU to classify Houthis as terrorists amid renewed conflict

Saudi Arabia is actively lobbying the European Union to officially designate Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization. According to six European officials, the kingdom’s diplomatic push has not yet fully addressed European concerns that such a label could hinder a future peace process in the region.

This campaign is part of a broader strategy by Riyadh to increase international pressure on the group. The Houthis have resumed near-daily attacks on the kingdom in recent weeks, following the restart of a war that began more than a decade ago. The conflict has escalated significantly since the truce of 2022 collapsed in July of this year.

The Houthis are already subject to certain EU sanctions, including an arms embargo and asset freezes targeting twelve of their commanders. Additionally, the EU has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a primary backer of the Houthis, as a terrorist organization. However, the bloc has stopped short of applying the same classification to the Houthis themselves, a step already taken by the United States, Australia, and Canada.

European officials indicate that few member states currently support the designation. The primary worry is that listing the Houthis would close off the limited communication channels Europe maintains with the group. This could undermine European involvement in any future peace negotiations. Furthermore, adding the Houthis to the terrorism list requires the unanimous support of all 27 EU member states, a high bar given that only a small number of countries have expressed support so far.

Despite the lack of formal designation, the European Parliament adopted a resolution last month calling for the EU to list the Houthis as a terrorist group. This move is largely symbolic but signals a desire for solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Joana de Deus Pereira, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, noted that while European states want to show support, they remain hesitant because a formal listing would have limited practical impact.

Concerns also extend to potential retaliation. De Deus Pereira suggested that the Houthis might target European vessels near Yemen in response to a designation. Additionally, a formal label could complicate the operations of aid groups working in Houthi-controlled areas. Another factor in the EU’s caution is that a terrorism designation is difficult to reverse, as lifting it would also require unanimous member state support.

The geopolitical stakes are high given Yemen’s location along the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway connecting Europe and Asia. Any disruptions from Houthi attacks could further impact global trade, which is already under strain from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The current escalation follows a history of intense military conflict. Riyadh led a years-long campaign against the Houthis with US backing before a truce was reached in 2022. That agreement fell apart in July after the Houthis accused Riyadh of bombing Sanaa airport. Since then, cross-border attacks by both sides have resulted in civilian casualties.

In October, following a deadly Houthi missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the bloc stood in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government communications office did not respond to requests for comment, while El Anouni, the EU foreign policy spokesperson, confirmed regular contact with Riyadh on regional issues but declined to discuss specific ongoing discussions.

The situation highlights the complex dynamics between diplomatic solidarity and strategic caution in European foreign policy. As the conflict in Yemen intensifies, the EU faces the challenge of balancing its support for Saudi Arabia against the long-term implications of a formal terrorism designation.