Guterres Pressures Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Oman to Release UN Staff in Yemen

SadaNews - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spoke today, Tuesday, with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Oman regarding the detention of international staff by the Houthi group in Yemen, urging their intervention for their release.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric explained that the Houthis have been holding 15 foreign staff members in their compound in the capital, Sana'a, since its storming last Saturday, noting that these staff members can now move freely within the compound and communicate with their families and UN agencies, expressing hope for their imminent release.

Dujarric also reported the release of five Yemeni staff members who had been detained since Saturday, while another 53 staff members remain arbitrarily held for years, some since 2021.

Dujarric affirmed that the Iran-aligned Houthis control vast areas of Yemen, including Sana'a since 2014, indicating that the allegations against UN staff of espionage or terrorism are "extremely concerning" and threaten the lives of the organization's workers, which is unacceptable.

On August 31, the Houthi group stormed UN offices in Sana'a, where they detained more than 11 staff members, according to UN statements.

A senior Houthi official noted that they suspect some staff members of spying on behalf of the United States.

On August 28, Israel assassinated the Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi along with several ministers and officials during a meeting.

In recent months, dozens of UN staff members have been detained in various Houthi-controlled areas, raising concerns within the organization regarding the safety of its personnel and the continuity of its humanitarian work in Yemen.