Seventeen Sentenced to Death in Yemen over Alleged Espionage for Israel and Western Allies:

Houthi-run courts in Yemen have sentenced 17 people to death by firing squad on charges of spying for Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, according to statements from authorities in Sanaa. The verdicts were delivered on Saturday by the Specialized Criminal Court, which is controlled by the Houthi movement and based in the capital. Houthi media outlets reported that the defendants were part of what they described as “espionage cells” linked to a broader network allegedly operating under the direction of Israeli, American, and Saudi intelligence agencies. The court ordered that the executions be carried out publicly “as a deterrent,” and published a list of the men sentenced. In addition to the death sentences, a woman and a man received 10-year prison terms, while another man was acquitted. This brings the total number of those tried in the case to 20. Prosecutors accused the defendants of working for foreign governments considered hostile to Yemen, with alleged espionage activities spanning 2024 and 2025. The United Kingdom was also named among the countries the defendants were accused of assisting. According to Houthi-run media, the accused were in contact with intelligence operatives abroad, including members of Israel’s Mossad. Their alleged activities reportedly contributed to attacks on military, security, and civilian sites in Yemen, resulting in dozens of deaths and the destruction of infrastructure. The case comes against the backdrop of regional tensions and escalating military activity following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023. In response to Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and disrupting international shipping in the Red Sea, the United States and the United Kingdom carried out a series of joint airstrikes across Yemen. The Houthis said these attacks were a retaliatory effort to support Palestinians, while international powers argued they were necessary to protect vital maritime routes. Houthi officials say they halted Red Sea attacks after a ceasefire agreement was reached in Gaza last month. Israel has also been accused by the Houthis of conducting extensive airstrikes in Yemen, hitting fuel storage facilities, power stations, and strategic infrastructure. In August, Houthi authorities announced that an Israeli strike killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the Houthi-run government in Sanaa, along with several ministers. Israel has not publicly commented on the claims. Saturday’s court announcements made no mention of any links between the accused individuals and the United Nations or other international organizations. However, over the past year, Houthi security forces have increasingly raided UN and NGO offices, detaining dozens of staff members—both local and international—and confiscating equipment. These actions have prompted strong condemnation from the UN and global humanitarian groups, who have demanded the release of the detained workers. The Houthis, who seized control of Sanaa more than a decade ago and continue to rule much of northern Yemen, maintain that these measures are necessary to prevent what they allege are covert foreign operations inside the country.

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