US demands Houthis release detained Yemeni mission staff immediately

The United States has issued a strong condemnation of Yemen's Houthi group for the unlawful detention of local staff affiliated with the US mission, demanding their "immediate and unconditional" release. In a statement on Wednesday, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott accused the Houthis of a broader "campaign of intimidation and abuse" against Yemenis connected to international organizations and foreign governments.

Accusations of coercion and 'sham proceedings'

Pigott stated that the detentions and the "sham proceedings" brought against the staff are evidence the Houthis "rely on the use of terror against their own people as a way to stay in power." Washington views the arrests as unlawful and politically motivated, part of a pattern designed to instill fear and suppress external connections within Yemeni society.

Context of widespread detentions and regional tensions

The Houthis are reportedly holding several Yemeni nationals who previously worked with the US and other international institutions. According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, as many as 59 UN personnel are also in the group's custody. The US statement comes amid ongoing international efforts to pressure the Houthis over their domestic governance and their regional activities, including attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea that have disrupted global trade.

Background of Yemen's civil war

Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi movement seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee south. The conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The detention of local staff connected to foreign missions underscores the severe restrictions and dangers faced by Yemenis working with international entities under Houthi control.