UN staff in Yemen face trial over alleged links to Israeli assassination strikes

• Dozens of UN employees in Yemen face trial for allegedly assisting Israeli airstrikes that killed top Yemeni officials, including Prime Minister Ahmad Ghalib al-Rahwi. Yemeni authorities claim “clear links” between UN World Food Program staff and the attack, with charges potentially carrying the death penalty.
• The UN strongly denies any collaboration with Israel and demands the immediate release of its detained personnel. Yemeni security forces raided UN offices, seizing computers and IT equipment, further straining relations with humanitarian agencies.
• The Aug. 28 strike was part of Israel’s retaliation against Yemen’s military campaign in solidarity with Gaza, including missile and naval attacks disrupting global trade. Yemen’s Ansarallah-led forces vow to continue operations until Israel’s siege on Gaza ends, despite a temporary halt following the Gaza ceasefire.
• At least 43 UN staff (mostly Yemeni nationals) face trial, risking execution, which could set a dangerous precedent for aid workers in conflict zones. The detentions complicate aid delivery in Yemen, where millions rely on UN assistance, raising concerns about neutrality and exploitation of humanitarian missions.
• The trial underscores the entanglement of humanitarian missions in geopolitical strife, leaving the region on the brink of renewed escalation.

Dozens of United Nations employees in Yemen are set to stand trial over accusations of aiding Israeli airstrikes that killed top government officials in August, according to Yemeni authorities.

The unprecedented charges, which could carry the death penalty, mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between Yemen’s Houthi-led government and international organizations operating in the war-torn country.

Acting Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras told Reuters that security agencies had uncovered “clear links” between a group within the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) and the deadly Israeli attack in Sanaa, which killed Prime Minister Ahmad Ghalib al-Rahwi and other senior officials.

“The steps taken by the security agencies were carried out under full judicial supervision,” Abu Ras said. “The public prosecution was kept informed step by step with every action taken… Therefore, as long as the prosecution is informed, it is certain that this process is moving toward its conclusion, leading to trials and the issuance of judicial rulings.”

The UN has denied any involvement, calling the detentions “arbitrary” and demanding the immediate release of its personnel.

The Aug. 28 strike was one of Israel’s most audacious attacks on Yemeni soil, targeting high-ranking Houthi officials in what appeared to be retaliation for Yemen’s ongoing military campaign against Israel in solidarity with Gaza. Since October 2023, Yemen’s Ansarallah-led forces have launched ballistic missiles, drones and naval blockades against Israeli and Western-linked shipping, severely disrupting global trade routes.

The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), merged with Ansarallah, were among the first to open a front against Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, vowing their operations would continue until Israel’s siege on Gaza ended. Their strikes forced the shutdown of Israel’s southern port of Eilat and inflicted economic damage, prompting Israeli officials to weigh further military action—even after Yemen halted its attacks following the Gaza ceasefire.

UN caught in the crossfire

The detentions have further strained relations between Yemen’s Houthi authorities and humanitarian agencies. The UN says 59 of its staff—mostly Yemeni nationals—are currently held by Sanaa, with at least 43 facing trial. If convicted under Yemeni law, they could face execution.

Stephane Dujarric, a UN spokesman, confirmed that Yemeni security forces raided UN offices in Sanaa on Oct. 31, seizing computers and IT equipment. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, warned that the detentions have made it “increasingly difficult” for aid groups to operate in Yemen, where millions rely on food assistance.

Abu Ras insisted that the government supports “organizations committed to the principles of humanitarian work,” but maintained that those accused of espionage must face justice.

The trial could set a dangerous precedent, jeopardizing the safety of UN workers in conflict zones worldwide. It also raises questions about Israel’s covert operations in Yemen and whether international aid structures have been exploited for intelligence purposes—a claim the UN vehemently denies.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv appears undeterred. Hebrew outlet Channel 12 reported that Israeli security officials are considering renewed strikes on Yemen, separating the conflict from the Gaza ceasefire. Yemeni President Mahdi al-Mashat has vowed to remain “vigilant,” signaling that hostilities could reignite at any moment, BrightU.AI‘s Enoch notes.

As Yemen prepares to prosecute UN staff over alleged collaboration with Israel, the case underscores the deepening entanglement of humanitarian missions in geopolitical conflicts. With both sides digging in—Yemen insisting on justice and Israel weighing further military action—the region remains on a knife-edge. For the UN, the detentions represent not just a crisis of personnel but a test of its neutrality in an increasingly polarized world.

Watch the video below that talks about how Yemenis bury Israeli commanders alive in a tunnel blast.

This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com