SANA'A — The Houthi-run Public Prosecution in Yemen has formally requested the death penalty for 21 detained United Nations employees, accusing them of espionage and collaboration with foreign intelligence services. 

The move has sparked international condemnation and heightened concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers in conflict zones.

According to statements released by Houthi judicial authorities, the defendants are alleged to be part of nine interconnected spy cells operating under a covert intelligence network. 

The prosecution claims this network is linked to a joint operations room involving the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Israeli Mossad, and Saudi intelligence, with its headquarters allegedly based in Saudi Arabia.

The detainees, who include staff from various UN agencies such as the World Food Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, were arrested earlier this year in areas under Houthi control. 

The group has accused them of gathering sensitive information and facilitating military targeting operations, including alleged involvement in an Israeli airstrike that killed a senior Houthi official.

The United Nations has strongly denied the allegations and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council have condemned the detentions as arbitrary and politically motivated, warning that such actions undermine humanitarian operations and violate international law.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure the release of the detainees, with several countries urging the Houthis to respect the neutrality of humanitarian workers and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The trial proceedings, which have not been independently verified, are expected to intensify tensions between the Houthis and the international community, particularly as Yemen continues to grapple with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.