Yemen’s Houthis Detains UN Staff Despite De-Escalation Assurance
The United Nations announced on Friday that the Houthis, who govern northern Yemen, had imprisoned an unidentified number of UN personnel.
As a result, it was suspending movement in all Houthi-held areas while demanding the captives’ immediate release.
In a statement, the United Nations provided no other information regarding the arrests, which occurred on Thursday in the Sanaa area.
UN #Yemen statement on the detention of additional personnel by de facto authorities in #Sana'a pic.twitter.com/1B1ptiuidN
— UN Yemen (@UNinYE) January 24, 2025
To ensure staff safety, all official movement of U.N. personnel into or within Houth-held regions was suspended.
This is deeply regrettable news from #Yemen. Detaining @UN staff and humanitarians is not acceptable. @WHO continues to call on de facto authorities to:
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 24, 2025
– immediately and unconditionally release all detained UN colleagues and other humanitarians;
– stop detaining humanitarians. pic.twitter.com/jW2I8J9k6h
“Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sanaa detained additional U.N. personnel working in areas under their control,” a U.N. statement read.
“To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control.”
The United Nations was aggressively engaged with senior Houthi representatives to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all of its detained staff and allies.
The Houthis refused to acknowledge the United Nations’ decision, which came as they were attempting to deescalate their attacks on ships and Israel following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Separately, US President Donald Trump has attempted to reinstate a terrorism designation he placed on the organization late in his first term but had been withdrawn by President Joe Biden, potentially escalating relations with the rebels.
It was unclear whether the Houthis considered the U.N. detentions as related to the decision.
The Houthis announced earlier this week that they will stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea corridor and free the 25-member crew of the Galaxy Leader, which they seized in November 2023.
ALSO READ:
- “Ruto’s Directive Saved Fuel Prices!” – Wandayi Claims Despite Public Outcry
- Ruto CSs Make Flurry Of Appointments As Attorney General Picks Governor Kilonzo
- Outrage After 25-Year-Old Man Dies In Police Custody
- ODM’s Oburu Responds To Reports Of Suspending Coalition Talks With UDA
- “Don’t Attack Public Infrastructure!” – IG Kanja Asks Kenyans, Issues Orders To Police
However, the Houthis have been targeting persons with Western relations for some years.
The Houthis, who are affiliated with Iran, have assaulted ships in the Red Sea, prompting attacks from the United States and Britain.
The United Nations also protested last June that the organization had arrested 11 of its employees.
For the past three years, the Houthis have held approximately 20 Yemeni staffers of the US Embassy in Sanaa. The embassy ceased operations in 2014.
Yemen’s Houthis Detains UN Staff Despite De-Escalation Assurance
