DUBAI, United Arab Emirates >> The United Nations on Friday suspended all travel into areas held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels after more of their staff were detained by the rebels.

The Houthis already have detained U.N. staffers, as well as individuals associated with the once-open U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, and aid groups. The rebels have been trying to deescalate their attacks on regional shipping and Israel after a ceasefire was reached in the Israel-Hamas war.

“Yesterday, the de facto authorities in Sanaa detained additional U.N. personnel working in areas under their control,” the U.N. statement read. “To ensure the security and safety of all its staff, the United Nations has suspended all official movements into and within areas under the de facto authorities’ control.”

The U.N. did not say how many workers were taken in recent days. In June, the U.N. said 11 Yemeni employees were detained by the Houthis under unclear circumstances in the area.

An appeal in December by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ office said the rebels held over 50 people from the U.N. and other organizations, in addition to four other U.N. personnel detained since 2021 and 2023.

In August, the Houthis raided a U.N. human rights office in Sanaa and seized “documents, furniture, vehicles and the office’s keys,” the U.N. said.

The U.N. added that it was “actively engaging with senior representatives” of the Houthis, who have held Yemen’s capital since 2014. The Iranian-backed rebels have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition battling on behalf of the country’s exiled government since 2015.