- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels arrested at least 11 UN employees (from WFP and UNICEF) in raids, accusing them of espionage for the U.S. and Israel.
- The UN condemned the detentions as illegal under international humanitarian law, with envoy Hans Grundberg calling for immediate release. The WFP labeled the arrests "unacceptable," warning they disrupt critical aid in famine-stricken Yemen.
- The crackdown follows an Israeli airstrike that killed top Yemeni officials, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi. The Houthis appear to be retaliating by targeting alleged collaborators.
- The rebels have long claimed Western/Israeli intelligence agencies infiltrate Yemen via humanitarian groups – a tactic historically used by Mossad. Tel Aviv has not commented.
- With 34 aid workers now detained since 2021, UN operations face collapse as Houthis escalate hostilities. The region braces for further retaliation, risking famine and regional war.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen have detained at least 11 United Nations staffers, accusing them of working as spies for the U.S. and Israel.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, security forces aligned with the Houthis – formally the Ansar Allah movement – conducted raids on the offices of the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the capital Sanaa. They took at least 11 employees from the two organizations into custody during the raids on Sunday morning.
The Houthis alleged that the seven WFP and four UNICEF employees they apprehended are part of a covert spy network embedded within humanitarian agencies to conduct surveillance for Tel Aviv and Washington.
"Those who were arrested from among the UN employees are accused of spying for the American and Israeli aggression," an official Houthi statement declared. "Whoever has the accusations against them confirmed will be referred to trial."
In turn, the UN vehemently denied the accusations and demanded the staffers' immediate release. Hans Grundberg, UN envoy to Yemen, condemned the raids as a violation of international protections for humanitarian workers.
According to Grundberg, the 11 arrested on Sunday add to 23 aid workers already held since previous crackdowns in 2021 and 2023. Meanwhile, the WFP called the arrests "unacceptable. It emphasized that such actions undermine critical aid operations in a country where millions rely on foreign assistance for survival.
Houthis declare war on espionage
The detentions mark the latest crackdown on international organizations operating in Yemen. They also come just days after an Israeli airstrike killed several top officials, including Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, dealing a significant blow to the group. (Related: Israel's assassination of Yemen's prime minister: A dangerous escalation in a lawless war.)
In response, Houthi authorities launched the raid and rounded up dozens of individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel – including the 11 aid workers. The movement has long accused Western and Israeli intelligence agencies of infiltrating Yemen through non-governmental organizations, a tactic historically employed by intelligence services worldwide.
While Tel Aviv has not commented on the allegations, experts acknowledge that Mossad has previously operated under humanitarian cover in hostile territories. The timing of these arrests suggests a retaliatory move by the Houthis, who have vowed to escalate attacks on Israel in response to the killing of their leadership.
The rebels, undeterred by U.S. military campaigns, remain steadfast in their support for Gaza, framing their maritime attacks as resistance to Israeli aggression. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine mentions that the Houthis "are resisting U.S. and Israeli influence by launching attacks on shipping lanes and military targets, defying heavy airstrikes from the U.S. and the U.K. while exposing the failure of Western intervention in Yemen."
As Yemen's humanitarian crisis deepens, the UN faces mounting challenges in delivering aid amid increasing hostility from Houthi forces. With tensions at a boiling point, the region braces for further escalation – one that could see humanitarian operations further crippled as the Houthis tighten their grip on dissent.
Watch this clip of Israel striking both civilian and military targets in Yemen.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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