Egypt Daily News – Today, Friday, the United Nations announced that it suspended its movements to areas under Houthi control. According to Reuters, the United Nations said in a statement that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of its employees after the Houthi authorities detained more employees in the Sanaa region yesterday, Thursday.
The statement comes after the Houthis detained U.N. staffers, as well as individuals associated with the once-open U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, and aid groups.
“Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sanaa detained additional U.N. personnel working in areas under their control,” the U.N. statement read. “To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control.”
Houthi re -included the list of “foreign terrorist organizations”
It is noteworthy that US President Donald Trump decided last Wednesday to re -include Houthis on the list of “foreign terrorist organizations” once again. This step imposes more severe penalties than those imposed by the administration of former US President Joe Biden on the group allied with Iran, in response to its attacks on the movement of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and on American warships concerned with defending this important waterway.
Supporters of the move say it is too late, but some experts say it could have consequences for anyone seen as helping Houthis, including some aid organizations. The White House indicated in a statement that “Houthi activities threaten the security of civilians and American employees in the Middle East, the safety of our closest partners in the region and the stability of global maritime trade.”
The U.N. added that it was “actively engaging with senior representatives” of the Houthis, who have held Yemen’s capital since 2014. The Iranian-backed rebels have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition battling on behalf of the country’s exiled government since 2015.
The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the U.N.’s decision, which came as they have been trying to deescalate their attacks on shipping and Israel after a ceasefire was reached in the Israel-Hamas war.
