Yemen (MNN) — What’s in a name? Labels like “Country of Particular Concern” or “Special Watch List” may sound like jargon at first. However, in the U.S. State Department, these names carry a promise for political action or attention. 

So how will the U.S. label the Houthi terrorist group in their upcoming 2025 Report on International Religious Freedom? USCIRF recommends that the Houthis remain listed as an Entity of Particular Concern, which comes with sanctions.

“Obviously, the State Department has to factor in lots of other angles, lots of other priorities into that conversation as well,” said Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs, USA.

The Houthis (also known as Ansarallah) were already redesignated in March by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. The State Department’s 2025 Report on International Religious Freedom should come out later this year.

(Photo courtesy of Lara Jameson/Pexels)

“The Iranian government has encouraged, supported the Houthis to make trouble — make trouble in the [Red Sea] shipping lanes, make trouble for Israel,” said Nettleton. “There is definitely a connection between the two countries.”

Yemen as a whole is in a worsening humanitarian crisis. Nettleton explains that followers of Christ face intense persecution on top of the physical dangers and struggles. With that in mind, please pray that entire families will come to faith together. 

“The reason I say that is because, typically, the first line of persecution is your family,” said Nettleton. “That’s true in Yemen. It’s true in other Islamic contexts as well.”

Finally, pray for wisdom and discernment for international leaders working with Yemen.

“[Pray] for them to be able to make wise recommendations and to understand when it’s best to use a carrot and when it’s best to use a stick to try to create more religious freedom and, frankly, other kinds of freedom in Yemen,” said Nettleton.

Header image is a stock photo of fishing boats in the port of Sfax in Aden, Yemen (courtesy of Yuksel Ozdemir via Pexels)