The heads of 6 UN agencies and 3 international humanitarian organizations issued a joint statement urging the Houthi rebels in Yemen to release 17 staff members of these organizations who were recently detained. According to the Associated Press, this statement was issued on Thursday, June 14, coinciding with requests from several countries and the European Union. In a recent UN Security Council meeting dedicated to discussing the situation in Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy, stated that the Houthis are keeping all detainees without any contact with the outside world, which is concerning. The Houthis, a group backed by the Islamic Republic, claimed on Monday, June 12, that they had arrested members of an 'American and Israeli espionage network.' Abdulhakim al-Khaywani, head of the Houthi intelligence organization, stated that this network was initially operating outside the US embassy in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, and added that after the embassy closed in 2015, the detainees continued their 'subversive program under the guise of international organizations and the UN.' He did not provide further details on the number of detainees. Houthi officials also released recorded confessions of 10 Yemenis who were allegedly hired by the US embassy. None of these individuals were among the detained UN staff. The Associated Press emphasized that the Houthis' claims are not independently verifiable. The joint statement from international organizations noted that the detention of humanitarian and relief workers would only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and called for respect for their rights and freedoms. Additionally, there was an attack by the Houthis on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in serious injuries to a civilian worker. A commercial vessel caught fire off the coast of Aden, Yemen, after being hit by a rocket, continuing the confrontation between the US military and the 'malicious behavior' of the Iran-backed Houthis.
Heads of 9 International Organizations Call for the Release of 17 Staff Members by Houthis
Heads of international organizations are demanding the release of 17 staff members detained by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who claim to have captured members of a spy network. This situation raises concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the treatment of humanitarian workers. The ongoing conflict and recent attacks highlight the tensions involving the Houthis and international interests.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Heads of international organizations urged Houthis to release detained staff amid claims of espionage.
- Heads of 9 International Organizations announce Houthi rebels
- Houthis arrest 17 staff members of international organizations
- Houthis attack commercial ship
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The detention of UN staff by the Houthis exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%