Yemen’s Houthis claimed on Monday that they had apprehended an alleged “American-Israeli spy cell”. This announcement came shortly after the group detained around a dozen United Nations personnel.
According to a televised statement from Abdel Hakim Al Khaiwani, the intelligence chief of the Houthis, the purported cell consisted of former employees of the U.S. embassy in Yemen.
Israeli government officials did not offer an immediate response, while the United Nations declined to comment on the allegations. The U.S. State Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The spokesperson for the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, stated that the organization is actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of its 11 detained staff members. These individuals represent five different UN agencies, as well as the UN envoy for Yemen.
Armed Houthi intelligence officers detained three employees of the U.S.-funded pro-democracy group National Democratic Institute and three employees of a local human rights group in a series of raids, according to three officials from Yemen’s internationally recognized government.