Houthi Court in Yemen Sentences 17 Individuals to Death Over Alleged Espionage

Sana’a — A Houthi-run court in Yemen has sentenced 17 individuals to death after convicting them in what authorities described as major espionage cases linked to Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

According to reports from the Houthi-controlled state media, the defendants were accused of collaborating with intelligence officers from these countries between 2024 and 2025. The court ruled that the group provided sensitive information, including details about government officials, their movements, and secret military positions.

The verdict stated that the accused supplied classified data related to Houthi missile systems and shared coordinates of critical installations, which allegedly facilitated attacks on military, security, and civilian sites, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The court ordered that all 17 convicts be executed by firing squad.

The ruling comes amid heightened tensions in Yemen, where Houthi forces continue to accuse rival states of conducting intelligence operations and supporting opposition factions. Human rights groups have frequently raised concerns over the transparency and fairness of judicial proceedings in Houthi-controlled regions.