Previous prisoner releases have been viewed as a means to jumpstart talks over permanently ending Yemen’s decadelong war, which began when the Houthis seized the country’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

The Houthis have previously detained UN staffers, as well as individuals associated with the then US Embassy in Sanaa and aid groups. View on euronews

The United Nations said on Friday that the Houthis who control northern Yemen had detained seven U.N. personnel, and it was suspending all UN staff movement in Houthi-held areas while seeking the detainees' immediate release.

The Houthis have already detained UN staffers, as well as individuals associated with the once-open US Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, aid groups and civil society.

The UN said that the Houthis who control northern Yemen had detained an unspecified number of UN personnel, and it was suspending movement in Houthi-led areas.

After its staff members were detained by the Houthis, the United Nations has decided to suspend all travel activities into areas held by these rebels in Yemen. The assets linked to the US and Israel have remained major targets for Houthis in the region.

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 statement comes after the Houthis detained UN staffers,

The United Nations (UN) says it has suspended all movement in Houthi-held areas of Yemen after a number of UN personnel were detained by the armed group in the capital, Sanaa. The UN said that it was actively engaging with senior Houthi officials to try to secure the release of all its detained employees.