SANAA — Armed members of the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Yemeni capital Sana’a on Wednesday, in a dramatic escalation of the group’s ongoing crackdown on international humanitarian organizations operating in areas under its control.

According to local and international media reports, Houthi gunmen forcibly entered the ICRC compound, disrupting operations and raising serious concerns about the safety of humanitarian personnel. The raid comes just days after Houthi authorities initiated legal proceedings against 21 detained United Nations employees, accusing them of espionage and seeking the death penalty.

The motives behind the raid remain unclear, but observers link it to the broader campaign by the Houthis to assert control over aid agencies and restrict independent humanitarian access. The ICRC has not yet issued an official statement on the incident, but sources familiar with the matter confirmed that staff were unharmed, though deeply shaken.

This latest development follows a pattern of increasing hostility toward international organizations. In recent months, the Houthis have detained dozens of aid workers, shut down NGO offices, and accused foreign agencies of collaborating with hostile intelligence services — claims widely rejected by the international community.

Human rights groups and diplomatic missions have condemned the raid, warning that such actions jeopardize the delivery of life-saving assistance to millions of Yemenis already suffering from years of conflict, famine, and economic collapse.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners have reiterated calls for the immediate release of all detained staff and for the Houthis to respect the neutrality and independence of humanitarian operations in accordance with international law.