Houthi Rebels Claim Arrests of 'American-Israeli Spy Network' Amid UN Staff Detentions

Houthi rebels in Yemen have arrested members of what they call an 'American-Israeli spy network', shortly after detaining 11 UN staff. The arrests involve accusations of espionage stemming from activities at the shuttered US Embassy in Sanaa. The situation exacerbates Yemen's dire humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict.

In a startling development, Yemen's Houthi rebels announced on Monday the arrest of individuals allegedly part of an 'American-Israeli spy network'. This announcement follows the detention of at least 11 UN staff members and other aid workers in recent days.

Maj. Gen. Abdulhakim al-Khayewani, head of the Houthis' intelligence agency, revealed that the purported spy network initially operated out of the US Embassy in Sanaa. After the embassy's closure in 2015, they allegedly continued their activities under the guise of international and UN organizations, according to al-Khayewani.

The Houthi authorities presented videotaped confessions from 10 Yemeni individuals, claiming they were recruited by the US Embassy, though this does not include any of the arrested UN employees. The UN had announced the detention of Yemeni staff members associated with various agencies, deepening concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen as the conflict intensifies, with over 150,000 deaths and significant humanitarian crises reported.