News – Yemen: The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned in the strongest terms the statements issued by the United States and several other countries regarding the arrest of a US-Israeli espionage network in Yemen.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry described these statements as blatant interference in Yemeni internal affairs and a continuation of the policy of disregarding international law and the principles of the United Nations.

The ministry emphasized that the information revealed through this espionage network demonstrates "an entrenched American tendency in its hostile behavior and systematic destructive policies" against Yemen and the Arab and Islamic countries.

The ministry called on friendly and brotherly countries to be wary of the "suspicious destructive roles" played by the embassies of these countries, particularly the United States, in the region.

Last week, Yemeni Security Forces announced they dismantled a significant espionage network working for the United States and Israel, involved in espionage and sabotage activities across various state institutions for decades.

According to a statement from the Security Forces, the network was directly linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and obtained susceptible information about various aspects of life in Yemen, including military, security, economic, agricultural, health, and educational fields. 

On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller dismissed espionage charges against Americans in Yemen, claiming the "Yemenis are using disinformation to shift blame for their own failures."

Miller stated that the "actions reflect a disregard for the dignity of the Yemeni people and those working for the country's betterment."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of all detained UN personnel.

The United Nations reported that the detained staff includes six from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, two from UNESCO, and one each from the UN Development Program, UNICEF, the World Food Program, WHO, and the Office of the Special Envoy. Additionally, 11 civil society workers and four more UN staff members were arrested between 2021 and 2023.