Yemen Ministry of Communications condemns Houthi militarization of telecom sector

The Yemeni Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has issued a formal condemnation regarding the Houthi militia's use of civilian telecommunications networks and infrastructure for military purposes. The Ministry stated that the militia is transforming vital national service facilities into tools to support terrorist operations, including the guidance of drones and projectiles, as well as conducting espionage and gathering citizen data.

The Ministry highlighted that these actions violate international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the conversion of civilian facilities for military use. Specific concerns were raised regarding the deliberate cutting of internet and communication services in the Taiz governorate, which the Ministry described as a systematic attempt to cover up violations and deprive civilians of essential communication and humanitarian services.

In response, the Ministry has called upon the international community, the United Nations, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to take decisive action to stop the politicization of the sector. Domestically, the Ministry urged telecommunications engineers and technicians in Sana'a to uphold their professional responsibilities and refuse any directives to use civilian networks for military or espionage purposes.