Iran-Backed Houthis Raid UN Food and Children’s Agencies in Yemen, Detain Employee Amid Heightened Tensions
Sanaa, Yemen – August 31, 2025
In a brazen escalation of hostilities toward international humanitarian operations, Iran-backed Houthi rebels raided offices of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Sunday morning, detaining at least one UN employee and potentially more. The attacks, which come just days after Israeli airstrikes killed the Houthi prime minister and several cabinet members, have drawn widespread condemnation from UN officials and aid groups, who warn of a severe blow to life-saving efforts in a country already ravaged by war and famine. As the Houthis tighten security across the rebel-held capital, the incident highlights the perilous environment for humanitarian workers and the rebels’ growing intolerance toward perceived foreign influences, amid their ongoing campaign of missile attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping.
Details of the Raids and Detentions
The raids targeted the WFP and UNICEF offices in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, with security forces storming the buildings early Sunday. Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the WFP, confirmed to The Associated Press that the agency’s offices were searched, describing the action as an “arbitrary detention of humanitarian staff,” which she stated is “unacceptable.” UNICEF spokesperson Ammar Ammar confirmed an “ongoing situation” at their offices, while a UN official, speaking anonymously, reported lost contact with several WFP and UNICEF staffers, who are believed to be detained as well. Houthi officials have not commented publicly, but the raids are seen as a response to heightened security measures following the Israeli strikes.
The detained WFP employee is among at least one confirmed case, with fears that additional staff from both agencies may be held. The UN has a history of tensions with the Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including Sanaa since 2014. In January 2025, the UN suspended operations in the Houthi-held Saada province after eight staffers were detained, a pattern of arbitrary arrests that has affected dozens of UN personnel, aid workers, civil society members, and even staff from the now-closed U.S. Embassy in Sanaa. These incidents have severely hampered aid delivery in a nation where 18.2 million people—over half the population—rely on humanitarian assistance, according to UN estimates.
Quotes from UN Officials and Houthi Sources
Abeer Etefa, WFP spokesperson: “WFP reiterates that the arbitrary detention of humanitarian staff is unacceptable.”
Ammar Ammar, UNICEF spokesperson: “There was an ongoing situation related to their offices in Sanaa.”
Anonymous UN official: “Contacts with several other WFP and UNICEF staffers were lost and that they were likely also detained.”
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi (in a televised speech): “Our military approach of targeting the Israeli enemy, whether with missiles, drones or a naval blockade, is continuous, steady, and escalating.”
Background: The Houthis’ Escalating Attacks and UN Tensions
The Houthis, a Zaydi Shia rebel group backed by Iran, have controlled Sanaa and much of northern Yemen since 2014, leading to a civil war that has killed over 377,000 people and displaced millions, according to UN estimates. Designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the group has been accused of human rights abuses, including child soldier recruitment and attacks on civilians. Their involvement in the Israel-Hamas war escalated in October 2023, with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping in solidarity with Palestinians, prompting U.S. and U.K. airstrikes. The August 21 Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport, described as the first use of cluster munitions since 2023, prompted Israel’s retaliatory strike on August 28, killing Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, Foreign Minister Gamal Amer, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed al-Medani, Electricity Minister Ali Seif Hassan, Tourism Minister Ali al-Yafei, and Information Minister Hashim Sharafuldin. Defense Minister Mohamed Nasser al-Attefi survived, and Interior Minister Abdel-Karim al-Houthi was absent. The Houthis vowed escalation, with leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stating in a televised speech that their “military approach… is continuous, steady, and escalating.”
Potential Impacts and Next Steps
The raids could severely disrupt humanitarian aid in Yemen, where WFP and UNICEF provide essential support to millions facing famine. With 18.2 million Yemenis needing assistance, any suspension of operations risks exacerbating the crisis, potentially leading to increased child malnutrition and displacement. It may prompt international calls for the Houthis to release detainees and could lead to further UN sanctions or diplomatic isolation. The U.S. and allies have already designated the Houthis as terrorists, and this incident may accelerate airstrikes or naval actions in the Red Sea.
Next steps include UN efforts to secure the release of staff, potentially through backchannel diplomacy with Oman or Qatar. The Houthis may use the detentions as leverage in ceasefire talks, while the UN Security Council could convene an emergency session. Aid agencies are preparing contingency plans, including rerouting supplies through Aden.
In conclusion, the Houthi raids on UN offices in Sanaa, detaining at least one employee, threaten humanitarian aid in Yemen and signal escalating paranoia after Israeli strikes. The key takeaway? In conflict zones like Yemen, protecting neutral aid workers is essential for saving lives—international pressure must prioritize their safe release to avert a deeper crisis.