Escalating its oppression against the Yemeni people, the Houthi militias in Sanaa kidnapped a Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reporter and took him to an unknown location. The Iran-backed group has a long history of repression against activists and journalists in regions they control. According to official Yemeni sources, Abdul Salam al-Dais was kidnapped from his relative’s house in the Shamlan district northwest of Sanaa. Dais was being pursued for days before the kidnap, however, the Houthis gave no clear motive for their actions. Five armed men drove up in a Suzuki vehicle, captured Dais, seized his mobile phone and personal computer, and took him to an undisclosed location. The legitimate Yemeni government in Aden held the Houthis accountable for his safety, calling on the International Federation of Journalists to pressure the militias into releasing him. The federation was also urged to pressure insurgents into providing Dais with necessary healthcare. For several years, Dais held the post of chief editor of the economy section at the Saba agency before moving to work as director-general of media content at the prime minister’s bureau from 2010 until the Houthis captured Sanaa in late 2014. Separately, the Netherlands-based foundation for human rights in the Arab world, Rights Radar, urged the international community to intervene to end the Houthi violations against the people of Hodeidah and protect civilians and the displaced. It also demanded investigations be carried out on abuse practiced against Hodeidah prison inmates. Meanwhile, a prisoner swap between the Houthi militias and the legitimate government on Monday saw the release of journalist Ibrahim al-Jahdabi. Jahdabi has been detained by the Houthis for over a year and a half. The exchange involved the release of 14 people from both sides.