CAIRO (AP) – Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have detained approximately two dozen United Nations employees in Sanaa, Yemen, as tensions escalate in the region. This detention occurred following a raid on a separate U.N. facility, marking a significant escalation in the Houthis’ ongoing crackdown against international organizations operating in Yemen.

According to Jean Alam, a spokesman for the U.N. resident coordinator for Yemen, the detained personnel include five Yemenis and 15 international staff members. The incident took place in Sanaa’s Hada neighborhood, where the staff were apprehended inside the facility. Notably, the rebels released an additional 11 U.N. employees after questioning, but the situation remains dire for those still held.

The U.N. is actively engaged in discussions with the Houthis and other relevant parties, aiming to resolve this serious situation as swiftly as possible. Alam indicated that restoring full control over the U.N. facilities in Sanaa and securing the release of all detained personnel are of utmost priority. He underscored the need for dialogue to address the ongoing crisis.

A second U.N. official, who requested anonymity, revealed that the Houthis confiscated all communications equipment from the facility during their raid, which included phones, servers, and computers. This seizure of equipment raises concerns about the operational capabilities of the U.N. in the region.

The detained employees are reported to be associated with various U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This incident is part of a broader pattern of hostility towards international organizations by Houthi rebels, who have launched a long-standing crackdown against U.N. staff and other foreign entities in areas under their control, such as Sanaa, the coastal city of Hodeida, and the northern stronghold of Sadaa province.

In total, dozens of individuals, including more than 50 U.N. staff members, have been detained by Houthi forces. Disturbingly, a World Food Program worker died earlier this year while in custody in Sadaa, highlighting the potential dangers faced by humanitarian workers in these conflict zones.

The Houthis have made unsubstantiated allegations that the detained U.N. staff members and others associated with international organizations and foreign embassies are spies, claims that the U.N. has vehemently denied. This situation has prompted significant operational changes for the U.N., including the suspension of activities in Saada province following the detention of eight staff members there in January. Furthermore, the U.N. has facilitated the relocation of its top humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to the coastal city of Aden, which is recognized as the base for the internationally accepted government.

This incident illustrates the precarious environment for humanitarian efforts in Yemen, where escalating hostilities and allegations have increasingly hindered the work of international organizations striving to provide essential assistance in a war-torn region.