Houthi Rebels Request Departure of UN Staff from Yemen, Including US and UK Personnel, within a Month

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have directed all UN personnel from the US and UK to exit the country within 30 days.

According to a January 20 letter, made public on social media, the directive requires these UN staffers to arrange their departure from the Houthi-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa, granting them only a 24-hour notification before the deadline.

The UN confirmed receipt of the notice, with an anonymous official indicating that the organization is assessing the situation. The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Peter Hawkins, who is British, is affected by this order.

This demand follows US-UK coordinated strikes targeting the Houthis' assaults on maritime trade routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The US has also recently reclassified the Houthis as a terrorist organization, reversing a previous decision meant to facilitate humanitarian aid to Yemen.

The ongoing civil war in Yemen, with the Saudi-backed government forces opposing the Houthis, has resulted in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, as stated by the UN. Amidst increased military pressure, the Houthis maintain their offensive stance by attacking additional vessels.

The US, alongside Israel, has established a coalition to monitor the Red Sea's safety for commercial ships, responding to the Houthis' missile and drone attacks against what they claim are Israeli-linked ships supporting Palestine in their struggle against the Israeli siege on Gaza.