PLC Head Overhauls Yemeni Security, Intelligence Apparatus

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Saba News Agency)
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Saba News Agency)
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PLC Head Overhauls Yemeni Security, Intelligence Apparatus

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Saba News Agency)
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Saba News Agency)

The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Rashad Al-Alimi issued republican decisions on Friday to establish a State Security Council and reorganize the security and intelligence apparatus.

The new State Security Council’s headquarters will be located in the interim capital, Aden, with the possibility of establishing branches across Yemen’s provinces.

The decrees, issued following a meeting in Riyadh with PLC members, entail the merging of the National Security and Political Security agencies into a single entity.

Additionally, the decrees involve the establishment of an independent counter-terrorism agency, with the appointment of its leader.

Reporting directly to the head of the PLC, the State Security Council is tasked with executing all duties and responsibilities outlined in the republican decision.

The organizational regulations specify the competencies of the Council’s leadership, sectors, divisions, and branches, as well as the general administrations overseen by each sector.

The presidential decision mandates that the heads of “Political Security” and “National Security,” along with the integration team formed by the PLC, develop a comprehensive implementation plan to conclude and finalize the integration process within a maximum period of six months from the issuance date of the decision.

Alimi’s decision obliges the novel Council to exercise its jurisdiction and carry out its tasks in a manner that upholds the principles of political pluralism, public freedoms, and human rights, and does not contradict the provisions of the constitution and applicable laws.

Furthermore, the organizational regulations for the Council will be issued based on recommendations and proposals from the integration committee formed by the PLC.

The head of the Council will issue organizational regulations for the administrative units and security force units, as well as permanent orders regarding duties, prohibitions for Council members, and the security of its elements and premises.

In addition, Alimi issued another decree outlining the establishment of a specialized counter-terrorism agency, headquartered in the interim capital of Aden and linked to the head of the Supreme Security Committee.

The decision defines the tasks, responsibilities, and organizational structure of the agency, specifying that its organizational regulations will be issued by a decision from the head of the PLC.

The agency will have an independent budget and financial system, supervised by the Supreme Security Committee.

The presidential decision obligates the agency to promptly refer cases involving suspects, seized items, and all related priorities to the State Security Council or relevant judicial authoritie



UNRWA: West Bank Witnessing Alarming Spillover of Gaza War

26 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarem: Palestinians carry their items to flee their homes as the Israeli army continues its raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as part of its biggest yet on going military operation in the West Bank. (dpa)
26 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarem: Palestinians carry their items to flee their homes as the Israeli army continues its raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as part of its biggest yet on going military operation in the West Bank. (dpa)
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UNRWA: West Bank Witnessing Alarming Spillover of Gaza War

26 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarem: Palestinians carry their items to flee their homes as the Israeli army continues its raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as part of its biggest yet on going military operation in the West Bank. (dpa)
26 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarem: Palestinians carry their items to flee their homes as the Israeli army continues its raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as part of its biggest yet on going military operation in the West Bank. (dpa)

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday that West Bank is undergoing an alarming spillover of the Gaza war.

“More than 50 people, including children, have been reported killed since the Israeli forces’ operation started five weeks ago,” he said.

In a statement posted on his X account, Lazzarini said that destruction of public infrastructure, bulldozing roads and access restrictions are commonplace.

People’s lives have been turned upside down, bringing back traumas and loss, he said, adding that around 40,000 people have been forced to flee their homes especially in refugee camps in the north.

“Fear, uncertainty, and grief once again prevail. Affected camps lie in ruins,” he wrote.

The UN official showed that more than 5,000 children who normally go to UNRWA schools have been deprived of education, some for over 10 weeks now.

Also, patients cannot access healthcare, families are cut off from water, electricity and other basic services, he said.

“More and more people are relying on humanitarian aid at a time when aid agencies are overstretched and severely under-resourced,” Lazzarini noted.

“Our UNRWA teams are tracking displaced people and continue to provide them with much needed food, health care, and basics to keep them warm,” he added.

“This must end,” the UN official concluded.

Meanwhile, the recently-appointed Palestinian governor of Tulkarem, Abdallah Kmeil, said on Wednesday that the Israeli forces had notified residents of their intention to demolish 11 homes in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern West Bank, where more than 5,000 people live.

“The Israeli occupation notice to demolish 11 homes under the pretext of constructing a road stretching from the camp square towards the Al-Manshiya neighborhood, is considered a new massacre against this camp through systematic destruction and sabotage,” he said.

Kmeil added that Israel’s unprecedented attack on Tulkarem and its camp will not break the resolve of its people.