Houthi rebels raid UN facility in Sanaa

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels raided a United Nations facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, but all 15 international staff present were reported safe, a UN official said.

Jean Alam, spokesperson for the UN resident coordinator in Yemen, confirmed that staff have contacted their families and that the UN is coordinating with authorities to ensure the safety of personnel and property. The facility hosts employees from several UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The raid is the latest in a long-running Houthi campaign targeting UN and international organisations in rebel-held areas. In August, Houthis detained 19 UN staff, including aid workers, releasing some but still holding more than 50 people connected to humanitarian and civil society operations.

The Houthis have alleged without evidence that some detained staff were spies, claims strongly denied by the UN. Stéphane Dujarric, UN spokesperson, called the accusations “dangerous and unacceptable,” saying they threaten the safety of personnel and undermine life-saving work.

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