On Monday, October 20, 2025, the United Nations confirmed that Houthi rebels in Yemen had released five Yemeni UN staff members, who had been detained over the weekend at the organization’s compound in Sanaa. Alongside their release, the Houthis also permitted 15 international UN staffers to move freely within the compound, following a brief but tense standoff that underscored the precarious position of international organizations operating in Yemen’s conflict-ridden, rebel-held territories.
According to ABC and the Associated Press, the situation unfolded as part of a broader pattern of Houthi crackdowns on international organizations within areas under their control. The Houthis, who seized Sanaa in 2014 and now dominate much of northern Yemen, have repeatedly raided UN offices and other humanitarian agencies in Sanaa, the strategic port city of Hodeida, and their stronghold in the northern province of Sadaa. The rebels have often accused detained staff and employees of various organizations and embassies of espionage, though, as the United Nations has consistently pointed out, these allegations have never been substantiated.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described the events to reporters on Monday, noting that, following the release, Houthi security forces had withdrawn from the compound. "The United Nations is relieved that our Yemeni staff have been released and that our international colleagues can now move freely," Dujarric said. He added that the organization remains deeply concerned about the ongoing risks faced by aid workers in Yemen, where dozens have been detained over the years and, tragically, some have lost their lives. In one such instance earlier this year, a World Food Program worker died while in detention in Sadaa, a grim reminder of the hazards facing humanitarian staff in the region.
The United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres was personally involved in efforts to secure the staff’s release. As reported by the Associated Press, Guterres spoke with foreign ministers and leaders from Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia on the day of the release, seeking to leverage their influence over the Houthis. Dujarric emphasized the importance of such diplomatic engagement, stating, "As the UN engages in sensitive negotiations with the Houthis, it is important for member states who have influence in the region, like those three countries, to use their leverage to assist in the release of international and national staff."
The incident is only the latest in a long series of confrontations between the Houthis and international organizations, which have increasingly struggled to maintain operations in rebel-controlled areas. The rebels’ suspicion of foreign agencies has led to a climate of fear and uncertainty, with frequent detentions and accusations of espionage. The UN and humanitarian groups have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that their sole mission is to deliver aid and support to Yemen’s embattled civilian population.
While the release of the detained staff provided a brief respite, the broader context in Sanaa remained fraught with tension. On the same day, the Houthis held a large funeral for their military chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdul Karim al-Ghamari, who had been killed in a recent Israeli airstrike. According to the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency, al-Ghamari died alongside his 13-year-old son, Hussain, and several companions. The funeral drew more than 1,000 mourners to the streets of Sanaa, where anger at Israel ran high. One attendee, Ayham Hassan, told the Associated Press, "Israel is the biggest enemy for Arabs and Muslims."
The death of al-Ghamari marked a significant escalation in the ongoing shadow war between the Houthis and Israel. Nearly two months earlier, Israeli airstrikes had killed senior Houthi officials in Sanaa, including the group’s prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi. The Houthis have since vowed to retaliate, and their attacks—primarily missile and drone strikes—have targeted both Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. These actions, which the Houthis claim are acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have caused widespread disruption. As noted by the Associated Press, the Red Sea is a vital artery for global trade, with approximately $1 trillion in goods passing through its waters each year. The Houthis’ campaign has upended this flow, prompting the United States and Israel to launch air and naval operations in response.
Al-Ghamari was a central figure in the Houthi military hierarchy. The United Nations sanctioned him for his "leading role in orchestrating the Houthis’ military efforts that are directly threatening the peace, security and stability of Yemen, as well as cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia." The U.S. Treasury added its own sanctions in 2021, citing his responsibility for "orchestrating attacks by Houthi forces impacting Yemeni civilians" and revealing that he had received training from Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group and Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
For the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, the risks in Yemen remain daunting. The country’s civil war, now in its second decade, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Houthis’ suspicion of international agencies has only compounded the difficulties of delivering aid. According to multiple reports, dozens of aid workers have been detained in recent years, with the fate of some remaining unknown. The death of the World Food Program worker earlier in 2025 serves as a stark illustration of these dangers.
Despite these challenges, the UN continues to press for access and safety for its staff. The organization’s leadership has called on influential regional actors—including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the internationally recognized government of Yemen—to help ensure that aid workers can operate without fear of arbitrary detention or violence. As Dujarric put it, "We urge all parties to respect the neutrality and vital work of humanitarian organizations in Yemen."
The release of the five Yemeni staff members this week may offer a brief moment of relief, but the underlying tensions between the Houthis and the international community remain unresolved. With the conflict in Yemen showing little sign of abating, and with regional dynamics further complicated by the war in Gaza and the Red Sea shipping crisis, the safety of aid workers and the delivery of humanitarian assistance continue to hang in the balance.
For now, the UN and its partners remain vigilant, determined to fulfill their mission in Yemen despite the ever-present risks. As the events of this past weekend have shown, even small victories—like the release of detained staff—can come at a high price in a country where conflict and suspicion are the norm.
