In a dramatic escalation of tensions in Yemen, Houthi rebels have detained multiple United Nations staffers, accusing them of spying for Israel and collaborating with international adversaries. According to AFP and corroborated by several other outlets, the latest wave of arrests took place on October 25, 2025, in the capital city of Sanaa, where three local UN staff—two women and one man, all employed by the World Food Programme (WFP)—were taken from their homes. This move is part of a broader crackdown targeting humanitarian workers in rebel-held territories, a campaign that has sent shockwaves through the international aid community and forced the UN to reevaluate its presence in the war-torn country.
Houthi security sources, as reported by multiple agencies, claim to have compiled a list of so-called “Israeli collaborators” embedded within international organizations operating in Yemen. These allegations, however, have been robustly denied by the United Nations, which describes them as “baseless.” The UN’s insistence on the innocence of its staff has done little to sway Houthi authorities, who appear intent on pursuing what they describe as a campaign against espionage and foreign interference.
The recent detentions follow a series of alarming incidents over the preceding week. Last week, Houthi forces raided a UN compound in Sanaa, detaining 20 staff members, including 15 foreigners. While most of those detained were released shortly afterwards, the episode marked a significant escalation in the rebels’ approach to international agencies. According to the UN, a dozen international staffers were allowed to leave Yemen on a humanitarian flight on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with several subsequently relocating to Jordan to continue their work from abroad.
Farhan Haqq, deputy spokesperson for the UN, confirmed on Friday that two additional staffers had been detained within the previous 48 hours, and that the homes of several others had been raided. “Since 2021, the de facto authorities have taken a number of steps that have made it increasingly difficult for the UN to provide assistance to Yemenis,” Haqq told reporters, as cited by Associated Press. He added, “These actions are forcing us to reassess the way in which we work in areas controlled by the Houthis.”
The crackdown has not been limited to UN personnel. The Houthis’ campaign has also affected staff from other non-governmental organizations and diplomatic missions, with a total of 55 UN staffers currently reported as being detained by the group since 2021. The rebels have repeatedly accused UN agencies—including the World Food Programme and UNICEF—of what they call “aggressive espionage.” Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi has gone so far as to allege that some humanitarian workers played a role in facilitating Israeli airstrikes in August 2025 that resulted in the death of the rebel prime minister. No evidence has been presented to support these claims, and the UN has categorically rejected them.
The situation has grown so dire that the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a rare, strongly worded statement: “The UN, at all levels, continues to be seized with the matter and is in constant contact with the relevant authorities in Sana’a and with concerned Member States and partners to secure their release. We renew the Secretary-General’s call for their immediate and unconditional release.” The world body has also confirmed that it is in ongoing discussions with Houthi authorities and other stakeholders in an effort to resolve the crisis.
The past several months have seen a pattern of increased hostility toward international organizations in Yemen. Reports from the World Food Programme, cited by multiple media outlets, confirm that the rebels have forcibly entered and occupied UN premises on several occasions, particularly in Sanaa. During these incursions, the Houthis have reportedly seized communications equipment, including phones, servers, and computers, further hampering humanitarian operations. The detainees are drawn from a range of UN agencies, including the WFP, UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
One particularly dramatic episode occurred on August 31, 2025, when Houthi forces raided UN offices in Sanaa and detained 19 employees. The UN later confirmed the release of the deputy director of the UNICEF office, but the incident underscored the precariousness of international operations in the region. The targeting of aid workers—a group traditionally considered neutral in conflict zones—has raised alarm among humanitarian organizations and donor governments alike.
The broader context for these developments is the ongoing war in Yemen and the regional fallout from the conflict in Gaza. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have positioned themselves as staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause, launching attacks on Israeli targets and Red Sea shipping lanes. These actions have, in turn, prompted Israeli airstrikes on rebel-held areas in Yemen, fueling an already volatile security environment. Houthi authorities have justified their crackdown on international agencies as a necessary measure to root out foreign influence and protect the integrity of their movement—a rationale that has been met with deep skepticism by the global community.
The UN’s ability to deliver life-saving assistance in Yemen was already under severe strain before the latest round of detentions. The country remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and the effects of protracted conflict. Aid agencies warn that the current standoff could have devastating consequences for ordinary Yemenis, many of whom rely on international support for their survival.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis are ongoing, but the outlook remains uncertain. The UN has reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained staff and continues to press for safe and unfettered access for humanitarian workers. Meanwhile, Houthi authorities show little sign of backing down, insisting on the legitimacy of their actions and maintaining that their campaign is justified by security concerns.
As the situation unfolds, the fate of the detained UN staffers hangs in the balance. Their plight has become a flashpoint in the broader struggle over the future of humanitarian action in Yemen—a struggle that will have far-reaching implications for the country’s most vulnerable people. For now, the world watches and waits, hoping for a resolution that will allow aid to flow once again to those who need it most.
