Arrested for Espionage: Houthi Political Council Secretary

Lebanon today

In the midst of an arrest campaign taking place among the Houthis, sources told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath channel that Yasser Al-Houri, secretary of the group’s political council, was arrested on charges of spying with foreign parties.

According to these sources, the Houthi group carried out a large-scale arrest campaign, targeting a number of its members against the backdrop of cases related to espionage. The group also kidnapped a number of UN employees due to communications between them and the group’s former Foreign Minister: Gamal Amer.

These developments come after Houthi elements raided United Nations offices in the capital, Sana’a, two days ago, and detained a number of the international organization’s employees. Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General: Stephane Dujarric, announced yesterday, Monday, the arrest of another employee, bringing the number of United Nations employees arrested over the past few days to six.

Dujarric also revealed that at least 59 UN staff are still being held by the Houthis, some of them for years. He stressed that the group has taken steps that make it “increasingly difficult” for UN agencies to provide humanitarian aid in Yemen.

It is worth noting that the Houthi group has controlled the most densely populated areas in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, since it seized power in 2014 and the beginning of 2015.