Yemen’s Houthi rebels detain at least 9 UN staffers and others in sudden crackdown, officials say
Associated PressMay 26
Yemen: Houthis Reportedly Detain UN Workers
Above: Yemen's Houthi military spokesperson preaches a statement during a protest staged in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip on March 15, 2024, in Sana'a, Yemen. Image copyright: Mohammed Hamoud/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A spokesperson for the United Nations said on Friday that Houthi security forces have detained Yemeni staff, two women and nine men, from five different agencies and the office of its special envoy over the past three days under unclear circumstances.
Earlier, officials from the internationally recognized Yemeni government said that Houthi intelligence had detained at least nine UN employees and six members of two other organizations — a human rights group and the National Democratic Institute — in raids on homes and offices.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Houthis have long miscalculated the potential benefits of their terrorist activities. From their years-long civil war — which has cost Yemeni lives dearly while Iran faces little impact — to attacking aid workers and cargo ships, the world has grown no closer to recognizing them. Despite Western forces backing down militarily, so long as Houthi attacks on civilians continue, economic sanctions will remain. Yemen's ability to rebuild and prosper is now solely in Houthi hands.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Houthi movement began as a fight against America's post-9/11 killing of millions of Arabs and continues in response to Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Houthis have never blamed, nor attacked Western people but rather western governments like the US and UK. Since 2019, even US allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have sought peace, but Washington has hindered such efforts every step of the way.