On Monday, the Houthis claimed they had uncovered a “spy” network aiding the US and Israel and had detained suspected members of it.
The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency released footage of the detained men, labeling them as “spies recruited to gather information and monitor sites controlled by the Houthi armed forces on Yemen’s western coast for the benefit of the American and Israeli enemy.”
According to Saba, the group had been recruited after the Houthis started targeting ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in November, disrupting global trade in what they claim is a show of support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The report didn’t specify the number of suspects arrested, but images shared by Saba on social media, though unverified, showed at least 18 people. No evidence was provided to support the charges, which Saba claimed the suspects had confessed to.
The Houthis, who control parts of Yemen affected by war, stated that they would do everything possible to secure their territory and prevent infiltration attempts by the American and Israeli enemy, according to Saba.
In December, the US announced a maritime security initiative to safeguard Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks. These attacks have led commercial ships to change their routes, affecting a busy shipping lane that typically handles 12 percent of global trade.
Since January, the US and Britain have carried out multiple strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to their attacks on shipping.
According to the Houthi-run news agency, the suspects were assigned to monitor sites where anti-ship missiles and drones were launched, as well as the whereabouts of Houthi vessels, and provide coordinates to aid strikes by US and British forces.
Despite these strikes, the Houthis remain undeterred and have pledged to target Israeli, American, and British vessels, as well as any ships heading to Israeli ports. Recently, they even threatened to expand their attacks into the Mediterranean Sea.
