Yemen uncovers large Israeli-US spy network

The Yemeni Security Forces uncovered a large espionage network operated by American and Israeli intelligence agencies, the agency announced on June 10.

Officials revealed that the network had been active within various institutions in Yemen since 2015, Al Мayadeen reports.

The head of the Security and Intelligence Service, Major General Abdul Hakim Hashem Al-Khaiwani, said in a televised statement, “The exposed network collected important information in various fields and carried out direct espionage technical operations on behalf of the enemy’s intelligence services to obtain confidential, sovereign information.”

The security apparatus reported that the network gathered critical information across multiple sectors and relayed it to hostile intelligence services.

The agency said that the data collection influenced decision-makers, infiltrated state agencies, and recruited officials within the Yemeni government.

The spy network was said to have aimed to destabilize Yemen's economy through information gathering and sabotage. The network is also blamed for damaging the agricultural sector by increasing pest infestations to boost agricultural imports, thus increasing Yemen's dependence on foreign parties

The network reportedly targeted Yemen's public health by spreading diseases and "undermined the education system by promoting moral corruption."

Additionally, the espionage network provided military intelligence to American and Israeli agencies to weaken the Yemeni army and diminish its capabilities, the agency added.

The Yemeni security forces underlined that the network supported the aggression against Yemen by supplying adversaries with military information, thereby hampering Yemen's military development over the past years.

Sanaa said more details about the network and its operations would be disclosed in the coming days.

Not the first imperialist radio

Members of the "Ammar Affash cell" (sometimes referred to as Ammar Saleh), were arrested in early May by the Yemeni security services, with the support of those concerned from the Ministry of Defense, for spying in service of the West.

The cell, more commonly known as the spy group "Force 400", led by Ammar Affash, a spy who has long been on the Yemeni forces' wanted list, had recruited these members to commit crimes in favour of the US and "Israel", according to Yemen's Saba News Agency.

According to Saba News Agency, a security official explained that the members caught over the past few days were recruited to work on collecting information and monitoring sites belonging to the Yemeni Armed Forces on the western coast of the Republic of Yemen. 

Furthermore, the official highlighted that following Yemen's declaration of the launch of its operations in support of the people of Palestine and the start of operations against Israeli targets, including in the Red and Arabian seas amid a joint US-UK aggression on Yemen, security services detected increased intelligence efforts by Yemen's enemies.

This comes after Yemen has successfully implemented a maritime siege against "Israel", despite the multiple attempts by the US, UK, and a joint naval operation to end Yemen's siege. 

Yemen launched its operation against the Israeli occupation in defence of the people of Yemen and expanded the width of operations to include the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and most recently the Mediterranean Sea. Yemen also expanded the scope of the operations to target not only ships headed to Israeli occupation ports, and Israeli ships but also US and British ships aimed at hindering Yemen's operation in service of "Israel".

Intelligence operations directed against Yemen through Force 400 became significant after US and UK intelligence failed to discover Yemeni launch sites that were used to target Umm al-Rashrash [Eilat] as well as US and UK warships.

Documents, recordings and reports

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, said that the details of the intelligence network's work will be revealed over multiple periods due to the various files it worked on.

"The intelligence network was involved in the economic file and the transfer of the Central Bank under direct American supervision," the correspondent added,

He also pointed out that the Yemeni security services seized documents, recordings, reports, and other evidence that the intelligence network worked on during its communications with foreign intelligence services.

He pointed out that the seized intelligence network was directly linked to Mossad and American intelligence services and was operating on long-term strategic issues.

The correspondent continued that dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of members in various ministries, institutions, and organizations are part of the vast intelligence network that was seized by the Yemeni security services.