The Houthi group Ansar Allah has taken 20 UN staff, including 15 foreigners, hostage in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, The New Arab reported.
The UN office in Yemen confirmed that five local staff and fifteen international staff were being held captive. The UN Resident Coordinator in the country, Jean Alam, said that the Houthi forces had carried out an “unauthorized intrusion” to the organization’s complex.
The UN is currently in contact with the authorities in Sana’a, the government of Yemen and member states in order to resolve the situation as soon as possible, to secure the release of all detainees and to regain full control over the organization’s facilities.
As a reminder, on August 31, militants also stormed the UN offices in Sana’a, detaining more than 11 employees, accusing them of “espionage for the US and Israel”. UN Secretary-General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric called such accusations “dangerous and unacceptable” and again called for the release of the 53 organization employees who continue to be held by the Houthis.
Since the end of August 2025, at least 21 employees of the international organization and another 23 representatives of non-governmental organizations have been arrested in the territories under rebel control.
