Houthis Detain 11 UN Employees in Sanaa Raids

On Sunday, Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, conducted raids on the offices of the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, detaining at least 11 UN employees. Abeer Etefa, a WFP spokesperson, confirmed the raids and detentions, stating that the agency is conducting a comprehensive headcount of its staff in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the detentions and the forced entry into UN premises, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the personnel.

These actions follow an Israeli airstrike on Thursday that killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several cabinet members. The strike targeted a government workshop in Sanaa, resulting in the deaths of multiple senior officials.

The Houthis have a history of detaining UN staff and aid workers in areas under their control. In January, the UN suspended operations in the Houthi stronghold of Saada after eight staffers were detained.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed concern over the recent escalation, warning that Yemen cannot afford to become a battleground for a broader geopolitical conflict.