A Houthi fighter holds up a pistol in the cargo area of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. Kirby's comment was significant because one of the Biden administration's first acts after taking office in January 2021 was revoking terrorist designations of the Houthis over fears the sanctions they carried could worsen Yemen's humanitarian crisis. Kirby called the Houthis' seizure of the vessel a "flagrant violation of international law" in which "Iran is complicit." "In light of this, we have begun a review of potential terrorist designations and we will be considering other options as well with our allies and partners as well," Kirby said at a White House press briefing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Feb. 12, 2021, revoked the designations in "recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen."

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Persons: John Kirby, Biden, Houthis, Kirby, Trump, Antony Blinken, Jonathan Landay, Steve Holland, Grant McCool Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Houthi Military, REUTERS, Rights, White House, Japan's Nippon, Car Carriers, Ray Shipping, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Red, United States, Iran, Israel, Bahamas, Isle of, Tel Aviv, Yemen, Hodeidah, Islam, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, U.S