UN staff detained in Yemen accused of espionage by Houthi official
The Houthis in Yemen have accused recently detained United Nations employees of spying for the United States and Israel, according to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The statement comes after the UN confirmed that at least eleven of its staff were arrested in Houthi-controlled areas last Sunday, shortly after the death of the Houthi-appointed prime minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi, killed in an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa.
The official said that “those found guilty of espionage will be brought to justice,” insisting that the arrests were linked to alleged foreign intelligence networks operating under the cover of humanitarian organizations. The UN, however, has firmly rejected such accusations.
This is not the first time UN employees have been targeted. Since June 2024, dozens of humanitarian workers have been detained, with one UN staff member dying in custody earlier this year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has denounced the “arbitrary detentions” and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all staff members.
The arrests come amid escalating tensions. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis—backed by Iran—have increased drone and missile strikes against Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. Israel has responded with repeated airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
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