Houthi Rebels Storm UN Facility in Sanaa
On Saturday, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels raided a United Nations facility in Sanaa, taking 20 staff members hostage. This event marks the latest incident in a series of mass abductions involving UN personnel by the group.
According to UN spokesperson Jean Allam, reported by the Associated Press, the captured individuals consist of five Yemenis and 15 international staff members. Thankfully, the Houthis did release 11 personnel after conducting some questioning.
Allam mentioned that the UN is currently in touch with the Houthis and other unidentified parties to resolve this pressing situation swiftly, aiming to secure the release of all individuals involved and regain full control over the facility.
A separate UN official indicated that among those detained were staff from the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Another official reported that the Houthis confiscated mobile phones and computers from within the UN compound along with the captured staff.
Reports on Saturday confirmed that one of the captives is Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen.
Mawan Ali Noman, the UN ambassador representing Yemen’s internationally recognized government, suggested that the UN should suspend operations in regions controlled by the Houthis.
In a critical tone, Noman condemned what he described as the UN’s “long-term inaction and appeasement” towards the Houthis, warning that without firmer measures, the group will persist in its intimidation and arbitrary detentions of civilians.
He expressed serious concern for the welfare of all UN staff, indicating their lives are genuinely at risk.
Additionally, Mohamed Al-Basha, founder of the US-based risk advisory newsletter Basha Report, remarked on the situation, stating that as the Houthis continue to detain Yemenis affiliated with foreign entities, their demands for public executions of supposed informants are intensifying. He stressed the urgency for the international community to act before it becomes too late.
Al-Basha also pointed out that the Houthi campaign of kidnappings seems to be a precursor to a media campaign aimed at accusing the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel of recruiting spies within UN agencies. Such claims tend to surface whenever a UN prisoner of war is taken. It’s worth noting that there have been rejections from UN officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres, about these accusations.
In fact, Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, reiterated the call to end the arbitrary detention of the 53 UN colleagues currently held by the Houthis.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi recently claimed that his forces detained a “spy squad” allegedly operating under the guise of humanitarian efforts, providing harmful information to facilitate airstrikes. He specifically accused WFP and UNICEF personnel of being Israeli agents.
The Houthis assert that they possess evidence indicating that these alleged spy cells are utilizing advanced technology to undermine national communications.
Since overthrowing Yemen’s government in 2014 and capturing Sanaa, the Houthis have turned Yemen into a dire humanitarian crisis. Their slogan remains “Allah is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse to the Jews.”
