The U.S. Department of State: "The Houthis Have Detained Over 20 U.S. Embassy Staff in Sanaa for Fifth Year"... Urges "Immediate and Unconditional Release"
United States
On October 19, the U.S. Department of State urged the "immediate and unconditional release" of more than 20 current and former staff members of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, who have been detained for five years by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The statement was issued under the name of Department of State spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The Houthis are designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States.
Five-Year Anniversary Statement
Spokesperson Pigott said in the statement: "Today marks five years since the Iran-backed Houthis wrongfully detained more than 20 current and former staff of the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a. For five years, these innocent individuals and their families have endured separation, intimidation, and abuse."
The statement detailed their "crime": "Their only 'crime' was working diligently toward peaceful relations and shared prosperity for both Americans and Yemenis." These individuals delivered humanitarian and development assistance to the very local communities the Houthis claim to represent.
The statement noted that the Houthis' continued detention of fellow Yemenis is "further evidence that they maintain control of territory through fear and violence against their own people." It concluded: "We have not forgotten our colleagues. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detained U.S. mission staff and all others who are wrongfully detained."
Spokesperson Pigott and the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's account posted the statement on X the same day.
On the Five-Year Anniversary of the Unjust Detention of U.S. Embassy Sana’a Staffhttps://t.co/h1NpyRJYxK
— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox) 2026년 10월 19일
On the Five-Year Anniversary of the Unjust Detention of U.S. Embassy Sana’a Staff pic.twitter.com/Qwpkv26yRL
— U.S. Embassy Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) 2026년 10월 19일
Previous Statements
On December 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement condemning the Houthis' detentions under the name of Pigott, who was then principal deputy spokesperson. The statement noted that the Houthis had escalated "intimidation and abuse" against Yemeni citizens affiliated with international organizations and foreign governments. It stated that the arrests and "sham trials" of staff were "further proof" that the Houthis rely on "terrorizing their own people" to retain power.
In a statement marking the first anniversary of the detentions, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that 12 current and former staff members of the United States and the United Nations remained in detention. He stated that most had no contact with their families and that one had died in custody that year.
UN Security Council
At a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Yemen on September 10, 2026, Jennifer Neidhart, Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, stated that the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks against four Saudi cities on September 8, injuring more than 70 civilians.
In the same remarks, Counselor Neidhart reminded the Security Council of the Houthis' detention of "UN personnel, humanitarians, and diplomatic staff, including U.S. Embassy Sana’a staff." She reiterated the demand for their "immediate and unconditional release."
Meeting with President Al-Alimi
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen posted on X on October 19 that it met with President Al-Alimi. During the meeting, they discussed progress on Operation Dawn of Yemen, the urgent need to lift the Houthi siege of Ta’iz, and stepping up international cooperation to stop Houthi arms smuggling. Over one million civilians are affected by the siege of Ta’iz.
Good meeting today with President Al-Alimi. We discussed progress on Operation Dawn of Yemen, the urgent need to lift the Houthi siege of Ta’iz affecting over one million civilians, and stepping up international cooperation to stop Houthi arms smuggling into Yemen. pic.twitter.com/p7P5DaQUIy
— U.S. Embassy Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) 2026년 10월 19일
Sources (KST)
- U.S. Department of State · Oct. 19, 2026 statement · https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/10/on-the-five-year-anniversary-of-the-unjust-detention-of-u-s-embassy-sanaa-staff/
- U.S. Department of State · Dec. 10, 2025 statement · https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/12/condemning-the-houthis-unlawful-detention-of-current-and-former-local-staff-of-the-u-s-mission-to-yemen
- U.S. Department of State · Sept. 10, 2026 UN Security Council remarks · https://usun.usmission.gov/remarks-at-a-un-security-council-meeting-on-the-situation-in-yemen/
- U.S. Department of State · U.S. Embassy in Yemen one-year anniversary statement · https://ye.usembassy.gov/one-year-of-detention-for-our-locally-employed-staff-in-sanaa/
- X @statedeptspox · https://x.com/statedeptspox/status/2112184716111585382
- X @USEmbassyYemen · https://x.com/USEmbassyYemen/status/2112183100499279940
- X @USEmbassyYemen · https://x.com/USEmbassyYemen/status/2112241565829890531