Describing it as a "brutal terrorist", the US embassy in Yemen calls on the Houthi militias to release its detained employees immediately

The United States of America renewed its call to the terrorist Houthi militia to immediately and unconditionally release the embassy staff in Sana'a and the staff of the UN agencies and international organizations that the militia is kidnapping in its prisons.

This came in a statement by the US Ambassador to Yemen, Stephen Fagin, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the illegal arrests of US embassy employees in Sana'a by the terrorist Houthi militia.

“For three years, the Houthis have been unjustly and illegally detaining innocent Yemeni citizens,” the ambassador said in his statement published on the embassy’s website.

He said the detained employees “have committed no crimes; they are being held hostage simply because they work for the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, to build understanding and strong relations between our two countries, and to provide for their families. They are patriotic Yemenis who have simply found meaningful work with the U.S. Embassy.”

“It has also been more than four months since the Houthis brutally took other Yemenis hostage – once again taking dedicated citizens serving their country away from their families simply for carrying out their regular work for the United Nations, NGOs and diplomatic missions,” the statement added.

The statement indicated that the Houthi militia, with these illegal arrests, "joins a long and shameful list of brutal terrorist groups that inflict unjust harm on innocent men and women, based solely on baseless accusations, fabricated evidence, and forced confessions."

Statement on the third anniversary of the unlawful arrests of US embassy staff in Sana'a. https://t.co/zmbl4IDPNe #USAwithYemenpic.twitter.com/Uc1Kuknpvf

— US Embassy Yemen (@USEmbassyYemen) October 19, 2024

In the statement, Ambassador Fagen expressed his deep concern over reports that the Houthi militia has referred many of these innocent Yemeni detainees to trial on baseless charges.

The statement expressed the United States' solidarity with the detainees and their families who endured this painful ordeal, which flagrantly violates the human rights of these detainees, and renewed the pledge to make every effort to release them.

Earlier on Friday, the US State Department said that Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass held a fruitful conversation with the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, at the US State Department on Thursday.

She added, "During the meeting, we stressed the urgent need to ensure the release of UN, embassy and NGO staff detained by the Houthis."

The two sides stressed the need to pressure the Houthi group to stop the attacks and give priority to peace in Yemen.

Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass: I had a productive conversation with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg at the State Department on Thursday. We emphasized the urgent need to secure the release of UN, embassy, and NGO personnel… pic.twitter.com/i11T0OPjVp

— US State Department (@USAbilAraby) October 18, 2024