Yemen Monitor / New York / Exclusive:
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen warned on Thursday that no single faction has the right to drag the war-torn nation into a broader regional conflict. Hans Grundberg also condemned the Houthi rebels for the continued detention of more than 70 UN staff members.
“The matter of peace and war is a par excellence national issue; it cannot be delegated to external parties, nor can it be monopolized by a single side,” Grundberg told the UN Security Council, emphasizing that “restraint, in this context, is an obligation.”
The UN Envoy called for “realism” regarding the costs Yemen and its people have endured over a decade of conflict. He demanded the creation of a political space that allows Yemenis to negotiate the country’s long-term future, including the shape of the state, security arrangements, and principles of governance.
Grundberg demanded that the Houthis “immediately and unconditionally release detained personnel and cancel all judicial referrals,” urging regional states and the international community to exert pressure on this issue.
“Today, 73 of our UN colleagues, along with former employees, remain in detention, alongside others from civil society and diplomatic missions,” he explained, noting that no investigation has been conducted into the death of one detained staff member.
Grundberg reported that many detainees are denied contact with the outside world amid serious concerns for their safety. He pointed out that some have been referred to a specialized criminal court whose procedures lack the minimum standards of justice and law.
“We have never abandoned our detained staff, and we continue to seek every avenue and at all levels to resolve this issue,” the Envoy affirmed.
The Houthis have escalated their targeting of aid workers and international organizations since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023. This war also prompted the group to launch attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes under the guise of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
The Houthis have frequently accused UN staff, aid workers, and journalists of spying for the United States and Israel—claims the United Nations has categorically rejected.
