Washington, October 19, 2022, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called upon Houthi militias to release the Yemeni employees who were detained by Houthis one year ago at the US Embassy in Sana’a. In a press statement issued today, the U.S. Secretary of State called on Houthis to release these Yemeni citizens and return them to their families as a demonstration of their commitment to peace for the people of Yemen and willingness to participate in a future government that respects the rule of law. He added that “as of today, twelve current and former U.S. and UN employees remain detained. Most have had no contact with their families, and one passed away in detention earlier this year.” “The ongoing detention of these Yemeni employees shows gross disregard for diplomatic norms and constitutes an affront to the entire international community. These actions continue to call into question Houthi willingness to see Yemen return to peace,” he said. He concluded that the United States is committed to advancing a durable resolution to the Yemen conflict and to ensuring the safety of those who serve the U.S. government. --SPA 18:30 LOCAL TIME 15:30 GMT 0027 www.spa.gov.sa/w1800370