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The Houthi’s say the satellite internet service is a threat to national security
This week, Houthi authorities in Yemen have ordered residents to hand over their Starlink satellite internet equipment, describing the kit as a US instrument for conducting “war on Yemen”.
The order, issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Sanaa, mandated citizens to surrender the equipment to the nearest telecommunications office, with failure to do so resulting in investigation by security forces.
The statement describes the services as a “direct threat to national security” and a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty by the USA.
Since the onset of the Yemeni civil war almost a decade ago, the Houthis have controlled a large part of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The internationally recognised Yemeni government currently resides in Aden, on the south coast.
As a result of the conflict, telecommunications services throughout the country have been heavily impacted, leaving millions without access to the internet amid a humanitarian crisis.
To address this challenge, in September last year, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s Starlink services had been made available in Yemen, becoming the first country in the Middle East to make use of the technology.
Starlink available in Yemen! https://t.co/JC1abSA6F8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2024
The Yemen government in Aden welcomed the announcement, saying it would not only help provide much needed connectivity across the country but also reduce reliance on the Houthi-controlled internet provider Yemen Net.
The Houthi’s monopoly on internet provision in the occupied region has been a key factor in surveillance and dissent repression, as well as a significant revenue generator for the regime.
As such, it should come as little surprise that the Houthi regime decried the launch, saying it jeopardised citizens data security and promoted US influence in the country.
According to reports, a “senior Yemeni official” acknowledged Starlink’s widespread usage since the service’s launch.
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