Overview
- The Houthi-run Specialized Criminal Court issued public firing-squad sentences on Saturday for 17 defendants accused of espionage, according to Houthi media.
- Prosecutors alleged the group worked with Israel’s Mossad and intelligence services from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia, sharing data they claim enabled lethal strikes and infrastructure damage.
- Two other defendants received 10-year prison terms and one was acquitted, and a defense lawyer said the death verdicts can be appealed.
- Independent verification of the espionage claims has not been presented, and the UN has condemned recent Houthi detentions of UN and aid staff and rejected spying accusations.
- The ruling follows a broader Houthi crackdown since 2024–2025 and comes in the context of regional exchanges of fire, including an Israeli strike earlier this year that killed the Houthis’ prime minister.