Yemen closes hospital found to be Iran front supporting Shi'ite rebels
Thursday, December 10, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
Special From Geostrategy-Direct.com
An Iranian hospital in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa has been ordered shut down amid reports that the facility was used as cover by IranŐs Ministry of Intelligence and Security for support and funding of Shi'ite Zaydi rebels.
The 60-bed hospital has four operating rooms and six intensive care units.
The ostensible reason for the closing was the hospitalŐs failure to pay rent.
However reports from Sanaa say it was due to the illicit Iranian intelligence activities from the facility.
The hospital were run by Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Yemen's interior minister issued a statement recently announcing the decision to close the Iranian hospital and clinic in Sanaa noting Ňfinancial non-transparency, as well monetary assistance to these two institutions from the Islamic Republic of Iran.Ó
YemenŐs government in recent months has accused Tehran of backing Shiite rebels.
The closure highlights growing tensions between Yemen and Iran.