Following Israeli airstrikes that killed the Houthi-controlled government’s prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, and other officials, Houthi rebels stormed the offices of UN agencies in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.1 Security forces entered the headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), detaining at least one UN staff member.2 While the exact link between the two events remains unclear, the raids come as the Houthis tighten security in Sanaa following the Israeli attack.3 The move is also part of a broader, long-running crackdown by the Houthis against the UN and other international organizations.4
Escalating Conflict and Vows of Vengeance
The Israeli airstrike that killed al-Rahawi on Thursday was a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.5 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the strikes are “only the beginning” of a campaign to target senior Houthi officials. In retaliation, the head of the Houthi’s Supreme Political Council has promised “revenge” against Israel. The Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at Israel and attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.6 This recent escalation marks a new phase of the conflict, with Israel shifting from targeting Houthi infrastructure to directly striking their leadership.
The Humanitarian and Political Context
The Houthi raids on UN agencies add another layer of complexity to the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.8 For years, the country has been split between the Houthi government controlling the north, including Sanaa, and the internationally recognized administration in the south.9 The UN and other aid organizations are crucial to providing assistance in a country suffering from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.10 The UN-backed government’s information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, has strongly condemned the raids, which he said also included the abduction of UNICEF guards.11 The Houthi raids on humanitarian organizations, which have occurred before, threaten to disrupt the delivery of aid to millions of Yemenis who rely on it for survival.
This video gives more context on the recent Israeli strikes that killed the Houthi prime minister. Israel kills Houthi rebel prime minister in Yemen
