Sana’a — The Houthi-controlled Special Criminal Court in Sana’a has commenced the first hearing in the trial of 21 United Nations employees, who are being accused by the Houthi authorities of belonging to an alleged espionage network.

According to Houthi-affiliated media, the defendants—who include staff from various UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP)—are being charged with collaborating with foreign intelligence services and providing sensitive information that allegedly endangered national security.

The court session, held under tight security, marks a dramatic escalation in the Houthis’ ongoing crackdown on international organizations operating in areas under their control. The group claims the accused were involved in “hostile intelligence activities” and had links to the United States and Israel.

UN officials have not publicly commented on the trial proceedings but have previously condemned the detention of their staff, calling for their immediate release and warning that such actions undermine humanitarian operations in Yemen. Human rights groups have also expressed concern over the fairness of the judicial process and the safety of the detainees.

The trial comes amid heightened tensions between the Houthis and international actors, particularly following recent allegations that UN personnel were involved in sharing coordinates used in military operations targeting Houthi leadership—claims that remain unverified.