By Andrew Haruna – The Bureau News
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed the offices of two United Nations agencies in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, detaining at least 11 UN staff members just days after Israel killed the rebel-controlled government’s prime minister in an airstrike.
According to UN officials, the rebels forcibly entered the premises of the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF on Sunday morning, detaining staff members from both agencies.
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, confirmed the incident, saying he “strongly condemns the detentions, as well as the forced entry into UN premises.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the condemnation, urging the Houthis to release the detainees immediately and unconditionally.
“The immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel is non-negotiable,” Guterres stressed.
Israeli Strikes Spark Houthi Retaliation
The raid came just two days after Israel confirmed it had killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the Houthi-run government in Yemen, along with several senior officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the targeted strike was “only the beginning” of a broader campaign against the Houthis, who have launched missiles toward Israel and attacked vessels in the Red Sea.
“We are doing what no one has done before us, and this is only the beginning of the strikes on senior officials in Sanaa. We will get to all of them,” Netanyahu declared at a government meeting.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have pledged revenge for the assassination, describing Israel’s actions as part of its ongoing war against Gaza.
Global Alarm Over Humanitarian Fallout
The incident has triggered global concern over the safety of humanitarian workers in Yemen, where millions depend on international aid amid a protracted civil war and humanitarian crisis.
WFP officials noted that aid operations risk disruption if staff remain detained. UNICEF described the raid as a direct attack on the neutrality of humanitarian work.
Analysts warn that the Houthis’ latest actions could worsen Yemen’s isolation and spark a broader confrontation with Israel and its allies in the region.
