News - Yemen: Yemeni officials affirmed on Sunday that the recent measures taken against a spy cell linked to certain international organizations were fully legal and aimed at safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and national security.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Mohammed Al-Sadda stated in an interview with Al-Masirah TV that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main channel through which international and non-governmental organizations operate in Yemen. He explained that the government had maintained continuous communication with UN agencies and briefed them on recent developments, yet some organizations engaged in unauthorized intelligence activities that threatened Yemen’s security and undermined humanitarian work.

“The procedures we undertook were constitutional and legal, carried out under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, to apprehend saboteurs and spies working for certain organizations, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,” Al-Sadda said.

He added that those detained and their families have full legal recourse, including the right to appoint defense lawyers. The Foreign Ministry, he noted, has established a specialized “Legal Support and Protection Department” to oversee the process and ensure fairness.

Al-Sadda emphasized that “the legal path remains the optimal framework for all parties,” calling on the United Nations to cooperate transparently and review the facts, affirming that the Yemeni judiciary will ultimately decide the matter with full transparency and justice.

In a related statement, Omar Al-Hamid, professor of international law, confirmed that the Yemeni government’s actions against the espionage network were entirely consistent with both national and international law.

He explained that while international law provides general provisions on espionage, it allows each state to prosecute offenders under its own domestic legislation. “The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 regulates the status of diplomats and international missions within a host country but subjects them to local laws,” he noted, adding that Yemen’s measures were “100 percent lawful” and properly executed by the Attorney General’s office.

Al-Hamid clarified that families of detainees or any concerned international entity can legally appoint defense attorneys. He highlighted that Yemeni law clearly defines espionage crimes — including the use of advanced devices, radio communications, artificial intelligence tools, and even satellite systems — and prescribes appropriate penalties depending on the severity of the acts, from attempted murder to complicity in killings.

He also distinguished between local spies and foreign agents, stating: “Spies are citizens who fall under Yemeni law, while agents work for foreign diplomatic or international entities. Both categories are subject to prosecution when their actions threaten national security.”

Al-Hamid concluded that Yemen’s actions were taken strictly to protect sovereignty and public safety, fully aligning with international legal standards and ensuring a transparent judicial process for all parties.

The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs has referred the UN Espionage Cell case — involving staff from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF — to the judiciary, citing conclusive evidence of espionage activities that threatened national security.

Acting Foreign Minister Abdul Wahab Al-Durra stated that the measures were not arbitrary but based on legitimate security grounds, revealing that investigations uncovered the cell’s involvement in the “Israeli direct targeting of the Yemeni government.”

He confirmed that all actions were taken under judicial supervision and that smuggled espionage equipment had been seized. Sana’a called on the United Nations to investigate how such infiltration occurred, stressing that the case is a test of transparency and accountability for UN institutions operating in Yemen.