French weapons in Yemen: open investigation for "compromising the secrecy of national defense"

An investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor for "compromise of the secret of national defense" after the transmission to a media of a note classified "confidential defense" evoking the use of French weapons in Yemen, learned the AFP Wednesday from concordant sources. The investigation was initiated on December 13, 2018 following a complaint by the Ministry of the Armed Forces, and investigations were entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), said a judicial source. It aims at a compromise involving a depositary and a third party.

The note in question - a report of about fifteen pages revealed on April 15 by the online media Disclose who said he received it in October 2018 - was written on September 25, 2018 by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM). It lists in particular the weapons sold by France that would be deployed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen, scene of a deadly conflict since 2015.

"Attack on the freedom of the press"

So far, the line invariably advanced by Paris is that these weapons are used only defensively "and not on the front line", in this war that has killed at least 10,000. Relying on this note, Disclose, which revealed this information in partnership with Arte info, the investigative cell of Radio France, Konbini, Mediapart and The Intercept, says instead that tanks Leclerc participate in offensives.

[URGENT] Two journalists from https://t.co/aJsaTD26Fz are summoned as part of an investigation into "compromising national defense secrecy" following a complaint by the Ministry of the Armed Forces. # # Yemenpapers madeinfrance Mediapart @ @ @ InvestigationRF ARTEInfo @ konbininewspic.twitter.com / heA1zeXML2

"The confidential documents revealed by Disclose and its partners are of major public interest, that of bringing to the attention of the citizens and their representatives what the government wanted to conceal", reacted the editorials of these media in a statement. At least three journalists who participated in this investigation are convened in mid-May for a free hearing on the premises of the ISB, told AFP Geoffrey Livolsi, a founder of Disclose. "This judicial investigation has only one objective: to know the sources that allowed us to do our job.It is an attack on the freedom of the press and the protection of the sources of journalists," denounced Geoffrey Livolsi. .