UN Suspends All Trips Into Houthi Areas Of Yemen

The United Nations on Friday suspended all travel into areas held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after seven more of their staff were detained by the rebels.

The Houthis have already detained UN staffers, as well as individuals associated with the once-open US Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, aid groups and civil society.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the seven, as well as all other UN who are being held by the Houthis, some since 2021.

“Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sanaa detained additional UN personnel working in areas under their control,” a UN statement read.

“To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control.”

Meanwhile, before Friday, the UN had a total of 16 Yemeni staff in Houthi detention. Staffers found seven others had been taken and halted their work, which provides food, medicine and other aid to the impoverished nation.

In June, the UN acknowledged 11 Yemeni employees were detained by the Houthis under unclear circumstances as the rebels increasingly cracked down on areas under their control. Several dozen others from aid agencies and other organizations are also held.

The UN added that it was “actively engaging with senior representatives” of the Houthis, who have held Yemen’s capital since 2014. The Iranian-backed rebels have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition battling on behalf of the country’s exiled government since 2015.

Guterres said that “their continued arbitrary detention is unacceptable.”

“The continued targeting of UN personnel and its partners negatively impacts our ability to assist millions of people in need in Yemen,” he warned in a statement.

“The Houthis must deliver on their previous commitments and act in the best interests of the Yemeni people and the overall efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.”

The Houthis did not acknowledge the UN’s decision, which came as they have otherwise been trying to deescalate their attacks on shipping and Israel after a ceasefire was reached in the Israel-Hamas war.

US President Donald Trump separately has moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that

Had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting the stage for new tensions with the rebels.

It wasn’t clear if the Houthis viewed the UN detentions as being linked to the decision.

AP/Christopher Ojilere