"Yemen's Houthis hold 20 UN personnel"

Rebels Detain 20 UN Workers in Yemen’s Capital

Houthi forces have seized 20 employees at a United Nations facility in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital.

The group is holding five Yemeni nationals and 15 foreign workers, though they freed 11 others following interrogation on Sunday. This marks the second raid on a UN building in Sana’a within a day.

A UN representative stated that officials are engaging with the Houthis and other involved parties “to address this urgent matter quickly, secure the release of all personnel, and regain complete authority over its facilities in Sana’a.”

An unnamed UN source revealed that the rebels seized all communication devices from the facility, including phones, servers, and computers.

The detained employees work with agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Houthis have escalated actions against international organizations operating in areas under their control, including Sana’a, the port city of Hodeidah, and their stronghold in Saada province.

Dozens of individuals, including over 50 UN personnel, have been arrested by the Iran-aligned group. Earlier this year, a WFP employee died while in custody in Saada.

The rebels have accused detained UN staff, along with workers from other international bodies and foreign missions, of espionage, though they provided no evidence. The UN has rejected these claims.

Following the arrest of eight staff members in January, the UN halted its operations in Saada. It also moved its senior humanitarian coordinator from Sana’a to Aden, where the internationally recognized government is based.