The United States has strongly condemned the ongoing detention of current and former local staffers of its embassy in Yemen by the Houthi movement, describing the arrests and legal proceedings as evidence of the Houthis' use of terror tactics. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for the immediate release of detained UN personnel, labeling their prosecution as a violation of international law.

Currently, 59 UN staff members, all Yemeni nationals, remain detained alongside dozens from nongovernmental organizations and diplomatic missions. Some have been referred to a special criminal court in Sanaa, with recent convictions including death sentences for alleged espionage. UN officials have raised concerns about the conditions and mistreatment of detainees, noting that some have been held incommunicado for years.

The United Nations continues to engage with the Houthis and regional powers to secure the release of the detainees, amid ongoing civil conflict and a crackdown on staff of foreign organizations in Houthi-controlled areas.