Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Monday the arrest of an alleged “spy network” operating under the guise of humanitarian organizations, following the detention of 11 UN staff members last week. The Iran-backed group claims the network was linked to the CIA and had been conducting espionage activities in Yemen for years, initially through the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, which ceased operations in 2015.
Maj. Gen. Abdulhakim al-Khayewani, head of the Houthis’ intelligence agency, stated that the network included former U.S. Embassy employees and had continued its operations under international and UN organizations. Al-Khayewani’s televised announcement included purported confessions from 10 Yemenis, who allegedly admitted to being recruited by the U.S. Embassy. The UN staff members detained were not among those featured in the confessions.
The UN and international human rights organizations have condemned the detentions, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel. Guterres emphasized the importance of protecting humanitarian workers who play a critical role in Yemen’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Houthis’ detentions have intensified concerns over the group’s commitment to a negotiated solution to the conflict in Yemen. The arrests come amid increased crackdowns on civic space by Houthi authorities, who have also detained additional UN staff members since 2021.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government described the detentions as part of a “massive abduction campaign” targeting UN and NGO workers. The Yemeni Mayyun Organization for Human Rights reported that at least 18 individuals were detained in simultaneous arrests across various regions, including Sana’a, Hodeida, Amran, and Saada.
The U.S. State Department and Israeli government officials have not yet commented on the allegations. The UN stated that it will continue to work through diplomatic channels to secure the release of its detained staff and other aid workers.
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