Houthi Rebels Detain 20 UN Staff in Sanaa Compound Raid

SANAA: The United Nations (UN) office in Yemen confirmed on Sunday that Houthi rebels were still holding 20 UN employees inside their compound in Sanaa, a day after the group carried out a raid on the building.

On Saturday, the UN reported that Houthi security forces had made an “unauthorised entry” into its premises, but assured that all staff were “safe and accounted for.”

Jean Alam, spokesperson for the UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen, said that five national employees and fifteen international staff members were still being held inside the compound. The UN stated that it was in contact with authorities in Sanaa, relevant member states, and the Yemeni government to resolve the issue quickly, ensure the release of all detainees, and restore full control of its facilities.

Later on Sunday, a UN official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen, was among the detained international staff.

This is not the first time Houthi forces have targeted UN offices. On August 31, the rebels stormed another UN compound and detained more than 11 employees, accusing them of spying for the United States and Israel. A senior Houthi official made these claims anonymously to AFP.

In response to the latest developments, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric condemned the detentions, calling them “dangerous and unacceptable.” He reaffirmed the UN’s call for the immediate release of 53 detained UN staff members.

Houthi leader Abdelmalek al-Huthi, in a televised address on Thursday, claimed that his forces had dismantled “one of the most dangerous spy networks” allegedly linked to humanitarian agencies such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF.

The recent raid took place amid a broader crackdown by Houthi forces, who have detained dozens of UN and NGO employees in recent months in areas under their control.

Since August 31, 2025, 21 UN staff have been arrested, in addition to 23 current and former members of international NGOs, according to the UN. Yemen remains mired in a decade-long civil war, which has plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.