Iran-backed Houthis murder Yemenis, threaten Israel, expose Arab silence and barbarity undermining regional peace security.
A Houthi-run court in Sanaa has confirmed death sentences for nine Yemenis accused of espionage, reinforcing the brutality of the Iran-aligned militia ruling large parts of Yemen.
According to Houthi-controlled media, the men were convicted of spying for foreign states, including Israel, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. Eight of the accused are currently imprisoned, while one remains at large. Other defendants in the same case received reduced or overturned sentences, but the death penalties were left intact.
The Houthis claimed the convictions were tied to actions that “harm national security,” insisting their courts operate under local law. Human-rights groups and international observers, however, note the group’s long history of using espionage accusations to silence dissent, intimidate civilians, and consolidate power.
The ruling comes amid escalating regional aggression since late 2023, when the Houthis began launching missiles and drones at Israel and attacking international shipping in the Red Sea — acts framed by the group as solidarity with Gaza, but widely seen as Iranian-directed terror operations.
The militia has repeatedly issued death sentences during its decade-long rule, including against detained UN staff. Antonio Guterres has condemned the referral of UN employees to Houthi courts, while Washington has denounced the detention of U.S. embassy staff.
In response to Houthi attacks, Israel, the U.S., and Britain have carried out strikes on Houthi-held areas. Israeli operations last summer eliminated senior Houthi figures, underscoring Jerusalem’s resolve to confront Iranian proxies while much of the Arab world remains silent as terror regimes execute innocents. of Yemen.
