UN and aid groups urge release of 17 staffers held by Yemen’s rebels

The Houthis said they had arrested members of an ‘American-Israeli spy network’, days after detaining the staffers from the UN and aid organisations

Houthi rebel fighters march during a rally of support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the US strikes on Yemen outside Sanaa (AP Photo)

Edith M Lederer

The heads of six UN agencies and three international humanitarian organisations issued a joint appeal on Thursday to Yemen’s Houthi rebels for the immediate release of 17 members of their staff.

The staff were detained along with many others also being held by the Iranian-backed group.