News - Yemen: Yemeni academic Abdulmalik Essa has launched a sharp critique against United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, affirming that his recent comments on Yemeni judicial rulings have "harmed Yemen" and aided Israeli interests.

In an interview with Almasirah TV, Essa argued that Guterres's statements represent an attempt to "internationalize the conflict" and came at a "suspicious time," suggesting they confirm a US-Israeli drive to delegitimize Yemen's authorities and portray the country as outside international legitimacy.

Essa linked this to a broader American strategy, referencing the US National Security Strategy's identification of Yemen as a concern regarding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea security. He emphasized this strategy is manifesting through political maneuvers in Yemen, including the expansion of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the south and preparations for attacks on northern regions like Marib.

On the legal front, Essa contended that UN personnel do not possess absolute immunity if they engage in actions threatening the host country's security. He cited the 1946 UN Convention, arguing it allows a host state to arrest and prosecute individuals as spies—a principle he affirms Yemen rightfully applied. He accused the Secretary-General of treating Yemen as a state "without sovereignty, without judiciary, without security and an army."

The academic's critique extended to the UN's overall role, asserting it has become "a tool of American war against Yemen," plagued by "huge and exposed financial and administrative corruption" in its Yemen operations. He questioned the UN's effectiveness on the Palestinian issue and accused it of being subservient to American will across multiple conflict zones, including Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, and Syria.

Essa concluded by affirming a "Zionist current" within the UN seeks to use the organization as a pressure tool against Yemen, framing the current dispute as part of a wider geopolitical confrontation. These comments reflect the deepening rift and profound distrust between the Sana'a authorities and international institutions, complicating diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the country.

Tensions escalated following the sentencing of individuals affiliated with UN and NGO programs on espionage charges by Sana'a's courts. The UN Secretary-General has expressed concerns over these rulings, calling for due process and the protection of humanitarian work.

The Specialized Criminal Court in the capital Sana’a has issued death sentences against 18 defendants convicted of collaborating and spying for foreign intelligence services, including the American, Saudi, British, and Mossad of the Zionist entity. Two additional defendants received ten-year prison terms.

 According to the prosecution, the network operated between 2024 and 2025, engaging in espionage for hostile foreign states—primarily Saudi Arabia, Britain, the United States, and the Mossad of the Zionist entity. The defendants allegedly received encrypted communication tools, location-tracking software, and training in covert photography and live-stream transmission.

They were accused of supplying adversaries with sensitive information on state leaders, military and security sites, missile positions, and operational movements. Prosecutors said this intelligence contributed to attacks on multiple military, security, and civilian locations, causing significant casualties and infrastructure damage.

The rulings come amid heightened intelligence activity in Yemen, with authorities reporting intensified covert operations by foreign agencies during the ongoing regional escalation. The case forms part of a broader series of prosecutions as Yemen strengthens its counter-espionage efforts in response to increased external threats.