CAIRO (AP) — The United Nations said Monday it suspended its humanitarian operations in the stronghold of Yemen’s Houthi rebels after they detained eight more U.N. staffers, affecting the global response to one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.

The United Nations announced the suspension of its activities in Yemen's Saada region, a Houthi stronghold, after the rebels detained multiple personnel there this year.

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.

This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance imperative to stay and deliver with need to have safety and security of UN personnel and its partners guaranteed,' says spokesman - Anadolu Aj

The United Nations reported on Monday that it has paused its humanitarian operations in the area dominated by Yemen's Houthi rebels due to the detention of eight more U.N. staffers.

The United Nations halted operations in Yemen's Sa'ada region after Houthi authorities detained U.N. staff. The move aims to safeguard personnel while negotiating their release and ensuring safe humanitarian delivery.

Claiming about the reaction of possible attack or ceasefire violation from Israel, Houthi rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said that they will rain missiles on Israel if it breaks the ceasefire.

The United Nations said Monday it has suspended its humanitarian operations in Saada, Yemen, after the detention of eight more UN staffers, affecting the response to one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.