CAIRO — The Iran-backed Houthis conducted a raid on the offices of the United Nations’ food and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital on Sunday. At least one U.N. employee was detained during the operation, according to officials. This incident follows a tightening of security measures in Sanaa after the recent killing of the Houthi prime minister and several cabinet members by an Israeli strike.

Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP), confirmed that security forces targeted the agencies’ offices in the Houthi-controlled capital on Sunday morning. “WFP reiterates that the arbitrary detention of humanitarian staff is unacceptable,” Etefa stated. The offices of UNICEF were also raided, as reported by a U.N. official and a Houthi official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation. Ammar Ammar, a spokesperson for UNICEF, mentioned that there was “an ongoing situation” concerning their offices in Sanaa but did not provide additional details.

The U.N. official indicated that contact with several other WFP and UNICEF staff members was lost, suggesting they may have also been detained. This raid is part of a broader crackdown by the Houthis against the United Nations and other international organizations operating in areas under their control. The Houthis have previously detained numerous U.N. staff and individuals associated with various aid groups and civil society organizations. Earlier this year, the U.N. suspended its operations in Saada, a Houthi stronghold in northern Yemen, after eight U.N. staff members were detained.

The recent raids occurred shortly after the killing of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several cabinet members in an Israeli airstrike. This attack has been described as a significant blow to the Iran-backed rebels, who have been involved in escalating tensions with Israel and have launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Among those killed in the strike were Foreign Minister Gamal Amer, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed al-Medani, and several other high-ranking officials. The Houthi leadership stated that the officials were targeted during a routine government workshop aimed at evaluating their activities over the past year. Defense Minister Mohamed Nasser al-Attefi survived the attack, while Abdel-Karim al-Houthi, the interior minister, was absent from the meeting.

The Houthis have vowed to intensify their military actions against Israel and maritime targets in the Red Sea. They previously launched a ballistic missile at Israel, marking a significant escalation in their military strategy. Houthi leader al-Houthi declared in a televised speech that their military approach against Israel would continue to escalate.