The US State Department has condemned the capture of additional UN staff by Houthi rebels in Yemen, amid the group’s ongoing attacks in the region.
In a statement, the department called for the release of all detainees, including seven UN workers captured on Thursday, and decried the “campaign of terror” by the rebel group.
“This latest Houthi roundup demonstrates the bad faith of the terrorist group’s claims to seek de-escalation and also makes a mockery of their claims to represent the interests of the Yemeni people,” the State Department said.
It also highlighted an executive order signed by President Donald Trump this week placing the Houthis back on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations.
The Houthi militia has detained dozens of staff from UN and other humanitarian organizations, most since the middle of last year.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all aid staff held in Yemen, where an ongoing humanitarian crisis has left the country reeling after a decade of war.
The Houthis, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, have been attacking the Red Sea shipping route and firing on Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war, prompting reprisal strikes from US, Israeli and British forces.
On Saturday, Houthi rebels unilaterally freed 153 war detainees, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
Previous prisoner releases have been viewed as a means to jump-start talks over permanently ending Yemen’s decadelong war.
Those previously released had been visited by Red Cross staff in Sanaa and received medical checks and other assistance, the organization said while announcing the release.
