Aden (South24 Center) 

---

The European Union on Tuesday (Sep 2) strongly condemned the Iran-backed Houthi group's arrest of 11 United Nations staff members and the seizure of UN facilities in the militia-controlled capital Sana'a. 

In an official statement, the EU described these violations as a serious overreach, emphasizing the necessity of respecting the inviolability of diplomatic premises and international organizations in Yemen, in compliance with international laws and treaties. 

The European Union demanded the Houthis immediately release all detainees, whether UN staff or local and international humanitarian personnel, calling on the group to cease all arbitrary practices against civilians and humanitarian workers. 

The statement further stressed that the Houthis must stop targeting commercial vessels and guarantee freedom of international navigation in the Red Sea, which serves as a vital artery for global trade. 

The European position comes in the wake of the latest escalation by the Houthis against UN personnel and commercial shipping. On August 31, the United Nations reported that the Houthis had detained 11 staff members in Sana'a and Hodeidah, alongside raiding World Food Programme facilities and confiscating UN property. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed profound condemnation of the arrests, describing them as "unacceptable", while his envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that such actions would severely hinder humanitarian aid efforts and the pursuit of peace. 

On Monday, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile targeting the commercial vessel ’Scarlet Ray’ in the northern Red Sea, claiming it was Israel-linked. However, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the attack missed its target. 

These developments coincide with intensified Israeli airstrikes on Sana'a, which killed several Houthi leaders, including the prime minister of their unrecognized government, Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi, and multiple ministers. The Houthis on Monday held a mass funeral for the slain officials and vowed retaliation. 

The list of those killed, according to the Houthis, included Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahwi, Justice Minister Mujahid Ahmed Abdullah, Economy Minister Mueen Hashim Ahmed Al-Muhaqri, Agriculture Minister Radwan Ali Ali Al-Rubaie, Foreign Minister Jamal Ahmed Ali Amer, Electricity Minister Ali Saif Mohammed Hassan, Culture Minister Ali Qasim Hussein, Social Affairs Minister Samir Mohammed Ahmed Baja’alah, Information Minister Hashim Ahmed Abdulrahman Sharaf Al-Din, Youth and Sports Minister Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Mawlid, the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Mohammed Qasim Al-Kubsi, and the Secretary of the Council of Ministers Zahid Mohammed Al-Amadi.

Yemeni Rial Back Again at 1617 per Dollar

On the economic front in the internationally recognized government-controlled areas, the Yemeni rial experienced sharp volatility over the past two days. It surged on August 31 to less than 1,064 against the US dollar in what was considered a major speculative wave, but stabilized later at 1,617 rials. The currency had quickly retreated to this level following a statement issued by the Aden-based Central Bank.