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Houthis Refuse to Free 19 U.N. Staff as They Keep Control of U.N. Offices in Sanaa

The detentions follow an Israeli strike that killed senior Houthi leader Ahmed al-Rahawi.

Overview

  • Houthi authorities said they will not release at least 19 U.N. employees seized in raids, asserting the detainees were spying for hostile powers.
  • The United Nations called for the immediate and unconditional release of its staff and reported that UNICEF and WFP offices in Sanaa remain under Houthi control.
  • U.N. officials said Houthi forces also broke into the UNDP office after the initial raids, underscoring continuing interference with U.N. operations.
  • Senior Houthi figure Mohammed al-Bukhaiti described the raided U.N. sites as espionage cells and argued U.N. immunities do not extend to alleged spying.
  • A Houthi missile was reportedly fired toward Ben Gurion Airport and fell in open ground outside Israeli territory, and Israel’s defense minister vowed harsh retaliation.