Houthis abduct two more Yemeni employees of US embassy in Sana’a
SMA NEWS – SANA’A
The Iran-backed Houthis have abducted two more Yemeni employees of the US embassy in Sana’a, according to a lawyer in the city. Meanwhile the militia has ordered the seizure of more properties belonging to its opponents.
Abdul Majeed Sabra, a Yemeni lawyer who defends abductees held in Houthi prisons, said on Thursday that two press officers at the shuttered US embassy in Sana’a have been detained. They were identified as Abdul Rahman Al-Sharabi and Nabiel Sultan.
The latest detentions come almost four months after the Houthis stormed the embassy compound, seized the property and detained about two dozen local workers.
The US Department of State, a spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the latest reports of abductions, citing concerns about the safety of embassy staff, but said that efforts are being made to secure the release of all detained workers.
“We condemn the Houthis’ continued detention of US and UN local Yemeni staff in Sanaa in the strongest possible terms,” he said. “This action sends worrying signals about the Houthi commitment to peace and intentions toward the international community.”
The US closed its embassy in the Yemeni capital in 2015 and American staff left the country as the Houthis tightened their grip on power after overthrowing the internationally recognized administration of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Armed Houthis occupied the US embassy compound in November and detained at least two dozen Yemeni staff. Nearly half were released but the militia has refused to free the rest despite mounting local and international pressure and condemnations.
In December, two UN organizations accused the Houthis of abducting two members of their staff a month earlier and called on the militia to release them immediately.
