ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Members of Yemen's Houthi group stormed a United Nations compound in the capital Sanaa on Saturday, detaining several UN staff, said a Yemeni security official.
The official, who requested anonymity, said that armed members of the Houthi security and intelligence unit forced their way into the United Nations Common Accommodation Facility in Sanaa and detained several employees.
The Houthi members also confiscated the UN staff's mobile phones and began interrogating employees from UN offices in Yemen.
He clarified that the incident was part of a broader campaign targeting UN employees in Houthi-controlled areas, noting that Houthi forces had increased raids on UN offices across Sanaa over the past two days.
The heightened tension follows a speech by Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi on Thursday, in which he alleged the existence of "dangerous spy cells" within humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen.
In his latest televised speech, the Houthi leader claimed that his group possessed "conclusive information" linking a "World Food Program cell" to espionage activities that allegedly assisted Israel in killing senior Houthi leaders in Sanaa in August.
Relations between Houthi authorities and international aid organizations have deteriorated sharply in recent months, particularly following the Israeli airstrikes in August.
In response to the recent developments, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed deep concern over what he called "dangerous and unacceptable" accusations by the Houthis against UN personnel. He demanded the immediate release of all detained UN staff and urged Houthi authorities to ensure the safety and protection of all humanitarian workers operating in Yemen.
Dozens of UN staff and aid organization personnel have been held by the Houthis since June 2024, despite repeated UN appeals for their release. ■