Houthis Raid UN Offices in Yemen, Detain Staff Amid Heightened Regional Conflict
Houthis Raid UN Offices in Yemen, Detain Staff Amid Heightened Regional Conflict
In a significant escalation of tensions, Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health, and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, detaining at least 11 UN employees. The raids, condemned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, follow an Israeli strike last Thursday that killed the Houthi prime minister and several cabinet members.
UN officials, including spokespersons for the World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF, confirmed the raids on their Sanaa offices, stating that security forces questioned employees and seized UN property. Secretary-General Guterres called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel, expressing grave concern over the forced entries.
The detentions mark the latest in a series of Houthi crackdowns against international organizations in rebel-held areas of Yemen. The rebels have previously detained dozens of UN staffers and aid workers, leading to the suspension of UN operations in some areas.
The Israeli strike on Thursday, which targeted a government workshop, resulted in the deaths of Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, Foreign Minister Gamal Amer, and several other high-ranking Houthi officials. This attack came after the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel on August 21, which they claimed was aimed at Ben Gurion Airport.
A funeral for the slain Houthi leaders is scheduled for Monday in Sanaa’s Sabeen Square. UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expressed “great concern” over the recent Israeli strikes and urged de-escalation, warning that Yemen cannot afford to become a battleground for a broader geopolitical conflict. Houthi leader al-Houthi has vowed to escalate attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
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