Barran Press
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the U.S. State Department announced that it has engaged with Oman's foreign ministry regarding the issue of its embassy staff in Sana'a and other humanitarian agency personnel detained by the Houthi group, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization.
In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted his concerns during a phone call on Friday with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. The discussion focused on the urgent need for the release of humanitarian and diplomatic personnel held by the Iran-aligned group in Yemen.
Blinken expressed serious concern about the treatment of embassy employees and international and non-governmental organization staff, as well as the conditions of their detention by the Houthis.
The statement noted that the two ministers discussed the immediate necessity to ensure the release of Yemeni employees from the U.S. embassy in Sana'a, alongside those from international and non-governmental organizations who the Houthis have unlawfully detained.
In June, the Iran-backed Houthi group launched a wave of arrests, detaining 13 Yemeni staff members from UN agencies and dozens of employees from international and local organizations involved in humanitarian efforts. Human rights reports indicated that approximately 70 individuals were arrested.
The Houthis have routinely accused detainees from UN and international organizations of "espionage and collusion" with the United States, often extracting coerced confessions that are then broadcast through their media outlets.