Unnamed Houthi militants forcibly enter UN buildings and detain staff members

UN offices invaded by Houthi militants, leading to the abduction of workforce personnel.

In a troubling development, the Houthi militia in Yemen has kidnapped an additional 23 UN staff members and employees of other aid organizations, bringing the total number of kidnapped UN personnel to around 33.

The Houthi militia has been accused of holding some of these staff members for over three years. The militia alleges that these UN workers are spying for the USA, under the guise of humanitarian activities. The UN personnel in question hail from various organizations, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the detention of UN staff by the Houthi and the intrusion into offices of aid organizations. Guterres has demanded the immediate release of the detainees.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has also voiced his concern, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff, as well as staff of national and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Yemen. Previously, the Houthi militia has stormed the offices of the World Food Programme and Unicef in Sanaa, Yemen, and kidnapped several staff members.

The Houthi militia has also been targeting merchant ships in the Red Sea with alleged ties to Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023. The stated goal of these attacks is to support the Palestinians in Gaza.

It is important to note that the Houthi government is not internationally recognized. The exact background of the kidnapping remains unclear.

In a recent development, the Houthi leader Abdel Malik al-Huthi has stated that the militia will continue its fight against Israel after the death of their Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahaui. Al-Rahaui and several ministers were announced dead by the Houthi yesterday, allegedly in an Israeli air strike on Thursday.

Israel and its ally the USA have repeatedly bombed targets in Yemen, adding to the complex and volatile situation in the country. The international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen.