SANAA, Yemen – Houthi-led authorities in Yemen have announced the capture of a major spy network. The authorities allege the network was jointly operated by United States of America (hereinafter: USA), Israeli and Saudi intelligence agencies (ILKHA). This announcement of a domestic security operation was made concurrently with a “general mobilization” of allied tribes in preparation for a potential Israeli attack and direct warnings from senior leaders that a new confrontation with Israel is “inevitable” (Middle East Monitor).
The Ministry of Interior of Yemen stated the security operation was named “And those who plan, they will be destroyed,” a reference to a verse in the Surah Fatir (Afghan Voice Agency). These actions collectively signal a coordinated strategy of internal consolidation and external deterrence.
The Alleged Spy Network
The Yemeni Ministry of Interior announced that a successful, multi-phased security operation identified and arrested members of the spy network. From the arrests, Yemeni authorities found out that the network was affiliated with a joint operations room involving the Intelligence Agency of the USA, Israel’s Mossad and Saudi intelligence services.
According to officials, this joint operations room was coordinated from a main headquarters in Saudi Arabia. Operatives were reportedly trained in Saudi Arabia and used advanced surveillance devices and communication systems.
The ministry stated the network was tasked with monitoring and collecting information on:
- Political leaders and military commanders
- Military production centers
- Missile and drone launch sites
- Vital infrastructure and security installations
The stated goal of the network was to “weaken the internal front in Yemen,” prevent support for Gaza and assist in USA and Israeli airstrikes by supplying coordinates for civilian areas, homes and markets. The ministry stated that the network operated through multiple small spy cells that worked independently but were all connected to the central command.
Link to Humanitarian Organisations
Yemen leader Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi warned last month that spy cells were embedded in organisations such as the World Food Programme (hereinafter: WFP) and UNICEF. He accused the USA and Israel of “using humanitarian agencies as a cover for intelligence activity,” allowing operatives to move freely under international status. Al-Houthi alleged one WFP-linked cell provided coordinates for an Israeli strike on a Yemeni government meeting.
Following these statements, arrests were made. On 26 October, security forces in Sanaa arrested two women and one man employed by the WFP on espionage charges. This followed the detention of seven other local employees of United Nations (hereinafter: UN) agencies. Following Israeli airstrikes in August, Yemeni authorities detained dozens of UN aid workers. Subsequent Oman-mediated talks led to the release of 20 foreign UN staff, although Yemeni employees remain in detention.
Mobilisation and Warnings to Israel
Concurrently with the internal security announcements, Yemen has escalated its external posture in response to perceived threats from Israel. On 3 November, the Houthi movement announced a “general mobilization,” calling on allied tribes to prepare for a “potential Israeli air strike” (Xinhua). This followed a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister labeling the group a threat. In response, hundreds of armed tribesmen rallied in the Arhab district north of Sanaa and other provinces, displaying military vehicles and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
Senior Yemeni leaders issued direct warnings. Leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, in a televised address, stated that “another round of confrontation” with Israel is “inevitable” (Middle East Monitor). He pledged to continue preparations for “the next stage of resistance,” pointed to Israel violating ceasefires, maintaining the blockade on Rafah and committing abuses against Palestinian prisoners, including “organ theft”.
This stance was reinforced by other officials. Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Wahid Abu Ras warned that any “aggressive action” by Israel would drag its government “into a complicated battle that it will not be able to control” and would come at a “heavy price” (Afghan Voice Agency). Muhammad al-Farah, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, similarly warned that Israel would “pay a heavy political and economic price” for any attack, stating that the response would be “practical options,” not just “media statements”.
Conclusion
Espionage is one of the oldest elements of warfare. Therefore, it is not surprising that Saudi-Arabia and USA, together with their Protectorate, Israel, entertain an extensive spy network in Yemen. Due to economic interests, these three states aim for the control of Yemen through indirect means. However, because these actors are involved in several other wars, their concentration on Yemen is somewhat limited. Therefore, espionage and sabotage are more practical approaches to destabilise the state, while aiding information collection to structure future aggression in a more efficient way.
Yemen’s response, in turn, is very ineffective. The attempt to evoke emotions and gain legitimate sympathy is often ineffective. With much of the global media controlled by the three antagonistic states, the attempt to gain support as the victim will likely backfire due to a lack of globally perceived legitimacy of the current rulers of Yemen. Instead, the spy network could have been used to feed false information to gain tactical advantages. Alternatively, a Yemeni intelligence specialist could have conducted counter-espionage operations and shared this information with states that would have had an interest in it.
