UN compound in Yemen is breached by Houthi rebels, resulting in the capture of multiple individuals
In a troubling turn of events, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is seeking more information from Yemen's Houthi rebels regarding the detention of some of its staffers. The raids, which targeted the offices of the UN's food, health, and children's agencies in Sanaa on Sunday, have left several people, including UN workers, in the hands of the rebels.
Media reports suggest that as many as 11 UN workers were detained during the raids. UNICEF spokesperson Ammar Ammar confirmed the detention of some of the agency's staffers.
The raids are part of a long-running Houthi crackdown against the UN and other international organisations in Yemen. This escalation comes amidst a tightened security situation in Sanaa following the killing of the Houthi rebels' prime minister, Ahmed al Rahawi, and a number of other ministers, in an Israeli strike on Thursday.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducted a significant strike against strategic targets of the Houthi regime in Yemen on Friday. The Houthis have conducted repeated strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Israel, adding to the ongoing tension in the region.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have controlled much of northwestern Yemen since 2014. Their actions have been met with international condemnation, with the UN and other organisations calling for the immediate release of the detained staffers and an end to the crackdown on international organisations operating in the country.
As the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, the UN and other international organisations are calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The detention of UN staffers only serves to further complicate an already volatile situation, and underscores the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing crisis in Yemen.
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