DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — At least nine Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances, authorities said Friday, as the rebels face increasing financial pressure and airstrikes from a U.S.-led coalition. Others working for aid groups also likely have been taken.
The detentions come as the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
But while gaining more attention internationally, the secretive group has cracked down at dissent at home, including recently sentencing 44 people to death.
Regional officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief journalists, confirmed the U.N. detentions. Those held include staff from the United Nations human rights agency, its development program, the World Food Program and one working for the office of its special envoy, the officials said. The wife of one of those held is also detained.
The U.N. declined to immediately comment.
The Mayyun Organization for Human Rights, which similarly identified the U.N. staffers held, named other aid groups whose employees were detained by the Houthis across four provinces the Houthis hold — Amran, Hodeida, Saada and Saana. Those groups did not immediately acknowledge the detentions.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this dangerous escalation, which constitutes a violation of the privileges and immunities of United Nations employees granted to them under international law, and we consider it to be oppressive, totalitarian, blackmailing practices to obtain political and economic gains,” the organization said in a statement.
Activists, lawyers and others also began an open online letter, calling on the Houthis to immediately release those detained, because if they don’t, it “helps isolate the country from the world.”
Yemen’s Houthi rebels and their affiliated media organizations did not immediately acknowledge the detentions. However, the Iranian-backed rebels planned for weekly mass demonstrations after noon prayers Friday, when Houthi officials typically speak on their actions.
It’s unclear what exactly sparked the detentions. However, it comes as the Houthis have faced issues with having enough currency to support the economy in areas they hold — something signaled by their move to introduce a new coin into the Yemeni currency, the riyal. Yemen’s exiled government in Aden and other nations criticized the move as the Houthis turning to counterfeiting. Aden authorities also have demanded all banks move their headquarters there.
“Internal tensions and conflicts could spiral out of control and lead Yemen into complete economic collapse,” warned Yemeni journalist Mohammed Ali Thamer in an analysis published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Bloomberg separately reported Thursday that the U.S. planned to further increase economic pressure on the Houthis by blocking their revenue sources, including a planned $1.5 billion Saudi payment to cover salaries for government employees in rebel-held territory.
The war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. The Houthis’ attacks on shipping have helped deflect attention from their problems at home and the stalemated war. But they’ve faced increasing casualties and damage from U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the group for months now.
Thousands have been imprisoned by the Houthis during the war. An AP investigation found some detainees were scorched with acid, forced to hang from their wrists for weeks at a time or were beaten with batons. Meanwhile, the Houthis have employed child soldiers and indiscriminately laid mines in the conflict.
The Houthis previously have detained four other U.N. staffers — two in 2021 and another two in 2023 who still remain held by the militia group. The U.N.’s human rights agency in 2023 called those detentions a “profoundly alarming situation as it reveals a complete disregard for the rule of law.”
The Houthis are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled northern Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.
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Baraa Anwer reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have once again made headlines for their aggressive actions, this time detaining multiple United Nations staffers and other individuals in an unexpected incident. According to officials, the incident occurred in the capital city of Sanaa, where the rebels have been in control since 2014.
The Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran and are fighting against the internationally recognized government of Yemen, have been known for their brutal tactics and disregard for international laws and norms. This latest incident is just another example of their willingness to use force to achieve their goals.
The UN staffers who were detained were reportedly working on humanitarian projects in Yemen, a country that has been devastated by years of conflict and a humanitarian crisis. The Houthi rebels have been accused of obstructing humanitarian aid efforts in the past, and this latest incident only adds to those concerns.
In addition to the UN staffers, several other individuals were also detained by the rebels, although their identities and reasons for being detained are not yet known. The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the international community, with calls for the immediate release of those detained.
The United Nations has condemned the actions of the Houthi rebels and called for the immediate release of all those detained. The organization has also called for an investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.
The situation in Yemen remains dire, with millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance and basic necessities. The actions of the Houthi rebels only serve to exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people and hinder efforts to provide much-needed aid.
It is crucial that the international community continues to put pressure on the Houthi rebels to respect international laws and norms, and to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. The detention of UN staffers and others is a clear violation of human rights and must not be tolerated.
As the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, it is imperative that all parties involved work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict and prioritize the well-being of the Yemeni people. The detention of UN staffers and others by the Houthi rebels is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Yemen and the urgent need for a sustainable peace agreement.
