Saudi Arabia Urges EU Terrorist Listing Amid Houthi Strikes
Saudi Arabia is lobbying the European Union to designate the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization following a wave of drone and missile attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
The Government of Saudi Arabia is pressing the European Union to designate the Iran-backed Houthi movement as a terrorist organization. This diplomatic push follows a resumption of war and near-daily Houthi attacks on the kingdom, including a series of drone and missile strikes on November 13, 2026. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the group targeted the Saudi Aramco headquarters in Riyadh, the Yanbu oil facility, a pumping station on the East-West Pipeline, and the Khamis Mushait airbase.
While the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the listing last month, the European Union has not yet acted because the designation requires unanimous support from all 27 member states. EU officials expressed concern that a terrorist label could close diplomatic channels, undermine peace processes in Yemen, and provoke Houthi retaliation against European vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis are currently subject to EU sanctions, including an arms embargo and asset freezes on 12 commanders.
Simultaneously, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to extend sanctions on the Houthis for one year, including travel bans and asset freezes. In Yemen, the Ministry of Defence reported progress in the Dawn of Yemen offensive, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that over 333,000 people have been displaced since August. Tensions have escalated since July 2026, following the collapse of a 2022 truce after Houthi accusations that Saudi Arabia bombed Sanaa airport.
