News - Yemen: Yemen's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates expressed its strong rejection and condemnation of all attempts at foreign interference in the internal affairs of Yemen.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulwahid Abu Ras responded to the recent statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and a memorandum from the UN Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen regarding the case of those detained in connection with spy cells. He emphasized Yemen’s outright rejection and condemnation of any foreign pressure or bargaining over this matter.

Abu Ras criticized the UN Secretary-General’s statement, labeling it a blatant interference in Yemen’s internal affairs. He stressed that such remarks are inappropriate for an international figure leading an organization representing 193 nations, not solely the United States or members of the Security Council. He called on Guterres to uphold responsibility, professionalism, and neutrality in his role.

The Deputy Minister denounced the Secretary-General’s condemnation of Yemeni authorities’ legitimate actions to maintain security and stability and to enforce the law. He rejected calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees, viewing such demands as a violation of the Secretary-General’s mandate and a breach of trust granted by UN member states.

He pointed out that the pressures Yemen faces, including in humanitarian contexts, are punitive measures targeting the Yemeni people for their principled stance in defending the oppressed Palestinian people and resisting US-Israeli crimes.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the need for the UN and all affiliated programs, agencies, and organizations operating in Yemen to adhere to Yemeni laws, particularly Cabinet Resolution No. 8 of 2024, which outlines governing rules for their work in the country. He called for adherence to their declared mandates, humanitarian principles (humanity, integrity, independence, and neutrality), and a distancing from political agendas or alignment with hostile U.S. policies. He warned against becoming a cover for espionage activities that serve the enemies of the Yemeni people.

The Sana’a government remains committed to its program of enhancing communication and building trust with the UN and international organizations, providing necessary support to facilitate their humanitarian work. However, Abu Ras reiterated that Yemen would not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty or national principles.

He concluded by affirming that the presence of the UN and international organizations in Yemen is welcome, provided they respect Yemeni laws, mutual cooperation, and non-interference in internal affairs.

Yemen's national security agency has uncovered and dismantled multiple espionage networks orchestrated by a coalition of Western intelligence agencies, including the United States, Israel, and the British MI6, in collaboration with Saudi intelligence. These operations are part of a broader pattern of covert activities from the "Axis of Evil"—a coalition comprising the United States, Britain, and the Zionist entity—aimed at destabilizing Yemen’s sovereignty.

These espionage networks were engaged in extensive surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations, focusing on Yemen’s strategic military capabilities, including its rocketry and drone operations, as well as high-level government officials and critical security installations. These covert activities were designed to undermine Yemen’s security and assist external forces in their efforts to exert influence over the country. In one such operation, the British intelligence used Saudi territory as a staging ground for espionage activities, recruiting agents to infiltrate Yemeni institutions, and gathering sensitive data to destabilize Yemen's infrastructure.

Despite the revelation of the involvement of these agents in espionage operations, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for their immediate release. His statement included the demand for the release of UN personnel, local and international NGOs, and diplomatic staff who have been detained since June 2024, and some dating back to 2021 and 2023. Guterres emphasized that the continued detention of these individuals was unacceptable and hindered the United Nations' ability to provide aid to millions of people in Yemen.

The investigation into these spy networks, which has resulted in multiple arrests, highlights Yemen’s ongoing commitment to defending its sovereignty and countering external efforts to destabilize the nation. The espionage revelations are seen as a direct consequence of Yemen’s increased support for the Palestinian cause and its missile and drone operations against Israeli targets.

These events underline the growing tension between Yemen and Western powers, with the UN caught in the middle of this geopolitical struggle.