According to news agencies, Iranian regime-supported Houthi militants have arrested at least 18 aid workers in several attacks over the past three days. These include 11 UN staff, three employees of the National Democratic Institute (funded by the US), and three workers from a local human rights group.
Three officials from Yemen’s legitimate government confirmed to Reuters that Houthi intelligence agents, who control the Yemeni capital Sana’a and large parts of the north, attacked the homes and offices of these individuals in the cities of Sana’a, Hudaydah, Amran, and Saada. They arrested the individuals and confiscated their phones and computers.
Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, expressed the UN’s deep concern about these developments on Friday, June 7. He stated that the UN has asked the Houthis to explain why these individuals were arrested and is working to ensure their unconditional and immediate release.
.@UN_Spokesperson: "We can confirm that the Houthi de facto authorities have detained 11 United Nations national personnel working in #Yemen. We are pursuing all available channels to secure the safe and unconditional release of all of them, as rapidly as possible."@OSE_Yemen pic.twitter.com/lPqQOdvhy2
— UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (@UNDPPA) June 7, 2024
According to the UN spokesperson, the two women and nine men who were detained are UN staff working for five different UN agencies, as well as Hans Grundberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen.
A representative from the local charity “Save the Children” told the Associated Press that one of their staff members had been detained and expressed concern for their situation, stating, that they are doing everything they can to ensure their safety and well-being.
According to some reports, the abducted individuals are likely accused of sending information to the enemy, a common charge by the Houthis against their critics and opponents and have been transferred to a security prison in Sana’a.
The Houthis, who are proxies supported by the Iranian regime, have repeatedly attacked maritime transport in the Red Sea since the recent Gaza war, and in turn, have been subjected to airstrikes by the United States and the United Kingdom.
In February, the US Central Command Deputy Commander confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces are present in Yemen and are operating “side by side” with the Houthis.
Reports of IRGC members’ deaths emerged after a news agency affiliated with the IRGC confirmed that the Iranian regime had provided its anti-ship ballistic missile technology to the Yemeni Houthis.
On Wednesday, May 29, the Tasnim security news agency reported that the technology for Iran’s first maritime ballistic missile, named Ghadr, had been provided to the Ansar Allah group, known as the Houthis.
