The war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians. The Iranian-backed Houthis have been fighting Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition, since 2014, when they descended from their stronghold in Saada and took control of Sanaa and most of the north.

The decision to pause all operations and programmes in northern Saada came after eight UN staff were detained by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.View on euronews

The total employees arrested since 2021 has risen to 24, a U.N. spokesman said. The Iran-backed Houthis have held them on murky charges of espionage and foreign intervention.