Detained members of the local United Nations team are set to go on trial over suspected connections to an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the killing of senior Houthi leaders in Yemen in August, as confirmed by the acting foreign minister of the Houthi administration to Reuters.
In August, an Israeli airstrike in the Yemeni capital Sanaa claimed the lives of the prime minister of the Houthi-led government backed by Iran and several other government officials, marking the first instance where such an attack targeted high-ranking officials.
Following the attack, a total of 36 United Nations workers were arrested, the UN disclosed on Friday, with the exact number of individuals to face trial remaining undisclosed at this time.
Despite Houthi allegations implicating UN personnel or activities in Yemen, the United Nations has consistently denied any involvement.
Acting foreign minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras highlighted that the security agencies’ actions were conducted under strict judicial oversight, with continuous updates provided to the public prosecution throughout the process, indicating progression towards the trial phase and the issuance of legal judgments.
Abu Ras pointed out the alleged involvement of a faction within the World Food Programme in directly targeting the government, although there has been no immediate response from a spokesperson representing the World Food Programme. The United Nations has consistently refuted claims of its staff engaging in espionage activities.