Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Political Council Member Defends Group's Arrest Of UN Personnel On Espionage Charges, Offers To Provide Proof Of Guilt To China Or Russia For UN Security Council

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In May-June 2024, Yemen's Iran-backed Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) claimed it had arrested a ring of spies who provided information to "American and Israeli intelligence services," and published videotaped "confessions" by the accused spies.[1]

The United Nations (UN) reported that 13 of its personnel, as well as five staff members of international NGOs and "many more from national NGOs and civil society," were "arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah last week and remain in incommunicado detention." Speaking on June 13, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, urged the Houthis to "respect the rights of Yemenis under international law and release all UN and NGO personnel immediately and unconditionally and to refrain from the arbitrary detention of civilians."[2]

A joint statement by the governments of the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and UK condemned the detentions of UN and NGO staff, reiterating the demand for their "immediate and unconditional release" and calling on the Houthis to "ensure the safety and security of humanitarian, diplomatic, and United Nations personnel." The statement describes the arrests as "an escalation by the Houthis" and "an affront to international peace and security."[3]

Speaking to Yemen's Saba News Agency, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the group's Supreme Political Council, responded to the statement, doubling down on the allegations and asserting that while the Houthis harbor no ill will toward UN employees, they will not tolerate hostile espionage. Accusing the U.S. of blackmailing workers of international organizations to serve as spies, Al-Houthi declared that the group is prepared to provide evidence of the accused spies' guilt to a third party.[4]

Following is a summary of Al-Houthi's statement:

Statement By U.S. And Other Countries Demonstrates Weakness

According to Al-Houthi, "America's gathering several countries in its statement … is a proof of weakness and bankruptcy," just as naming its military operation in the Red Sea "Prosperity Guardian" came after "its inability to convince the world of the legitimacy of its actions." He added that the U.S. and the other signatories to the statement "would never let anyone carry out the activities which the spy network carried out in their countries."

Declaring that the U.S. and UN statements attest to the revelation by Houthi security forces that the arrested individuals had been "using humanitarian and aid work as a cover for espionage," Al-Houthi offered proof of their guilt. He alleged that embassy workers received "security and intelligence training" from the CIA, and used "encrypted and secret means of communication" to liaise with U.S. intelligence officers, in "violation of diplomatic norms." Claiming that the employees were commended by the CIA for their work, Al-Houthi presented this as proof of "the importance of [their] role … and its harm to the national security of the Republic of Yemen."

The evidence revealed by Houthi intelligence proves America and Israel's "systematic destruction and deliberate action to destroy civilization and cause corruption and ruin," according to Al-Houthi. All countries reject and condemn such behavior, which "has no relationship to humanitarian work."

Offer To Provide Evidence Of Spies' Guilt To China, Russia, Or Other Countries; Demand For UN To Explain Its Employees' Behavior

The Political Council member called on the U.S. to "stop the policy of blackmailing employees by recruiting them under the guise of humanitarian and diplomatic work." Declaring that "we have nothing against employees of UN organizations," he condemned the U.S. for running the alleged spy ring, stressing that the Houthis will not tolerate "any espionage hostile to the Republic of Yemen" and will claim their rights to punish the spies "by any means they see fit."

Asserting that there is "unequivocal evidence and proof" of the spies' crimes, Al-Houthi declared that the group is prepared to hand over the evidence to a third party which "rejects the violation of countries' sovereignty through such acts of espionage," noting that he had previously offered to provide China and Russia with the material to present to the UN Security Council.[5] He described U.S. statements rejecting Houthi claims as "denial of evident facts, like denying the sun in broad daylight."

Al-Houthi concluded his statement by demanding that the UN and its agencies provide an "explanation" of its employees' behavior, declaring that it reflects "a lack of commitment to its declared charters and work regulations" and constitute "another unjustified crime."

Back in March, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi called on China and Russia to cooperate militarily with the Houthis, asserting that they view the U.S. as a common enemy.[6]