CAIRO (AP) – A court in Yemen's capital, controlled by the Houthi movement, has convicted 17 individuals of espionage for foreign governments, resulting in death sentences as part of an ongoing crackdown against local personnel affiliated with international organizations. The Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa announced the verdict on Saturday, as reported by the Houthi-run SABA news agency.
The court characterized the defendants as members of "espionage cells" tied to the intelligence agencies of the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The sentences involved executions by firing squad carried out in public, underscoring the severity of the ruling. Alongside the death sentences, a man and a woman received 10-year prison terms, while one defendant was acquitted.
Abdulbasit Ghazi, a lawyer representing some of the convicted individuals, stated that the verdict is subject to appeal. The accused were alleged to have engaged in espionage activities related to foreign nations considered hostile toward Yemen during 2024-2025. Prosecutors contended that the defendants cooperated with intelligence officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel’s Mossad intelligence service.
According to SABA, the defendants provided critical information regarding the locations and movements of Yemeni state leaders, as well as details about missile operations. This collaboration reportedly led to attacks on various military, security, and civilian sites, causing numerous casualties and significant infrastructural damage.
The recent verdict is part of a broader pattern of repression by the Houthis, who have maintained control over large swaths of Yemen amidst a civil war that began in 2014. Over the years, the rebel group has imprisoned thousands, including United Nations personnel, with the latest arrests occurring in June. The Houthis have focused their efforts on detaining individuals associated with international aid organizations and foreign embassies, often accusing them of espionage without providing substantial evidence, claims that the U.N. staunchly refutes.
This trend of harsh punishments in Houthi-controlled areas is not new; past court rulings have also resulted in severe consequences for those accused of siding with the Saudi-led coalition. For instance, in September 2021, the Houthis executed nine people linked to the assassination of Saleh al-Samad, a high-ranking Houthi official, in a Saudi airstrike in April 2018.
In late 2023, the Houthis escalated their military actions, launching missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and vessels in the Red Sea. The group claimed these assaults were in solidarity with the Palestinian cause amid the conflict in Gaza. The United States and Israel retaliated with air and naval operations against the Houthis, and one Israeli airstrike earlier this year resulted in the death of the prime minister of the Houthi government along with several members of his cabinet.
The developments illustrate the ongoing tension and the strategic implications of the Houthis' actions as they find themselves engaged in a broader regional conflict, revealing the complexities of Yemen's civil war scenario.
