The United States has issued a strong condemnation of recent detentions carried out by the Houthis involving United Nations, diplomatic, and non-governmental organization staff. The U.S. has also criticized the Houthis' attempts to disseminate disinformation about the role of detained current and former local staff from the U.S. mission through televised forced and fake confessions.
A statement released by U.S. officials emphasized that "the Houthis are seeking to use disinformation to shift blame to the United States and other outside actors for their own failures." According to this statement, these actions by the Houthis show a blatant disregard for both the dignity of the Yemeni people and individuals who have dedicated themselves to their country's betterment, contrary to what is being claimed.
The statement highlighted that these efforts stand in stark contrast with those of the detained individuals who have been held without justification for more than two-and-a-half years. The detention of these individuals, including UN staff, was described as an affront to diplomatic norms.
In closing, U.S. officials called for their immediate release, stating emphatically: "We will not rest until they are."
