191119 Pompeo
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Image Credit: AP

Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Sunday that the United States will designate Yemen's Al Houthi rebels as a terrorist group, a long-mulled move that aid groups fear will worsen a humanitarian crisis.

"The designations are intended to hold (the Houthis) accountable for its terrorist acts, including cross-border attacks threatening civilian populations, infrastructure and commercial shipping," Pompeo said in a statement.