The insurgent group arrested 20 support employees after a raid on a compound in Sanaa, a United Nations spokesman mentioned.
Houthi rebels detained United Nations officers in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday, UN spokesman Jean Alam mentioned.
The militant group has beforehand accused support employees of spying for the US and Israel, allegations the UN has denied.
Alam mentioned 20 workers from numerous UN companies, together with 16 international nationals, have been detained throughout a raid on the group’s compound in Hada district. He added that 11 different folks have been launched after interrogation.
AFP quoted an unnamed UN official as saying that UNICEF envoy to Yemen Peter Hawkins was amongst these detained. The AP reported that the Houthis confiscated all digital units, together with computer systems and telephones.
“The UN is in touch with the Houthis and different events to resolve this critical state of affairs as rapidly as doable, finish the detention of all personnel and restore full management over their services in Sanaa.” Alam mentioned.
In a televised speech on Saturday, Houthi chief Abdul Malik al-Houthi mentioned the militants had dismantled what he described as a “harmful spy community” linked to the CIA and Mossad. He alleged that brokers used the UN World Meals Program and UNICEF as a canopy to “subversive operations”.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres, dismissed the accusations as “harmful and unacceptable” and known as for the discharge of all humanitarian employees.
The Houthis, who management a big a part of Yemen, have launched drones and missiles at Israel and attacked industrial ships within the Purple Sea. Israel, the US and the UK responded with airstrikes in opposition to Houthi-linked targets.
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