Houthi Security and Intelligence Apparatus Kidnaps Prominent Foreign UN Official in Sana'a

On Sunday, August 31, 2025, the Security and Intelligence Apparatus affiliated with the Houthi militia kidnapped a number of United Nations staff members in the hijacked capital, Sana'a, including a prominent foreign UN official, an incident that has sparked widespread concern for the safety of humanitarian workers .

A security source confirmed to Khabar Agency that an armed force belonging to the Houthi Security and Intelligence Apparatus stormed the UNICEF office in Sana'a, assaulted its staff, and then kidnapped the Deputy Director of the organization, Luna Shukri (Jordanian nationality), transporting her to the Apparatus' headquarters amid a continued severe siege on the building .

According to sources, UNICEF security officer Othman Al-Jalal was beaten by militia elements for refusing to allow them entry, while other employees were interrogated under coercion .

Simultaneously, the militia launched a campaign targeting other UN organization compounds, including the World Food Programme (WFP), where they arrested a number of its employees, including Ghanem Al-Asri and Ammar Nasser Al-Nakhai, further intensifying international community fears regarding escalating violations against humanitarian workers .

Human rights sources mentioned that these developments occurred amidst a series of repeated violations against international organizations by the Houthi militia, which included raiding headquarters and kidnapping local and foreign staff. This threatens to obstruct humanitarian relief activities in Yemen and exposes workers' lives to serious dangers .