Seven Yemeni UN workers detained in Sanaa: Houthi official

Several Yemenis working for the United Nations in the rebel-held capital Sanaa have been detained on accusations of spying for Israel, a Houthi security official told AFP on Friday, in the latest arrests targeting the world body's staff.

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Earlier this week, 20 UN staff including 15 foreigners were released after being held in their compound since a raid last weekend.

The rebels have harassed and detained UN staff and aid workers for years, accusing them of spying, but they have accelerated arrests since the start of the Gaza war.

"Seven United Nations employees, all of them Yemenis, have been arrested from late last night until this afternoon on charges of spying for Israel," a security source in Sanaa told AFP.

Another Houthi source confirmed UN employees had been arrested but did not specify how many.