Yemen’s Houthi rebels stormed the headquarters of the United Nations’ Human Rights Office in the capital, Sanaa, seizing documents, furniture, and vehicles, a senior U.N. official said on August 13.
The seizure was the latest move in a crackdown by the Houthis on people working with the U.N., aid agencies, and foreign embassies. The crackdown comes as the Iranian-backed rebels have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
The rebels took over the U.N. Human Rights Office’s premises in Sanaa on August 3, after forcing UN Yemeni workers to hand over belongings, including documents, furniture, and vehicles, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said in a statement.
“Ansar Allah forces must leave the premises and return all assets and belongings immediately,” Türk said, using the official name of the Houthis.
A spokesman for the Houthis didn’t return phone calls and messages requesting comment.
The UN Human Rights Office said it had suspended the office’s operations in Sanaa and other Yemeni areas controlled by the Houthis following the June crackdown campaign. But it still operates in the parts of Yemen controlled by the internationally recognized government.
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