Security Brief: 20 United Nations Staff Detained By The Houthis In Yemen
Date: October 19, 2025 Location: Sanaa, Yemen Situation: 20 United Nations Staff Detained By The Houthis In Yemen Threat Level: Critical Security Brief: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have illegally entered the United Nations office in Sanaa and detained 20 staff. The rebels have accused the staff of being spies for both the United States and Israel. They claim that international human rights organizations have become dangerous spy cells in the country. The Houthis have been arresting a large number of UN staff since August 2025, and since then have escalated their crackdown on international agencies operating in Yemen. Given the situation and the rebels’ continued accusations against the UN and its staff, it is highly likely that the arbitrary detentions will persist. De-escalation is also highly unlikely to occur at the moment, and the security for the UN staff in the country is almost certain to remain high-risk.