Houthis Say 43 UN Staff Will Face Trial

Houthi authorities said they will put dozens of detained local United Nations staff on trial, alleging they spied for Israel or were linked to an Israeli air strike on Sanaa in August that killed the Houthi prime minister and other senior ministers. Houthi officials told Reuters 43 detained UN workers will face trial, while the UN says at least 59 UN personnel are being held and that 36 were arrested after the attack. The Houthis accused a cell inside the World Food Programme of involvement and said security actions are proceeding “under full judicial supervision,” noting Yemeni law could carry the death penalty for those convicted. The UN has rejected the accusations, condemned the detentions as arbitrary, demanded the immediate release of its staff, and warned Houthi actions are forcing it to reassess and complicate humanitarian operations in areas they control. Houthi forces have also entered and raided several UN offices in Sanaa, escalating international concern over aid access and the safety of local UN employees.