Yemen Executes Major Blow to Foreign Spy Network, Sentencing 17 Operatives to Death

The verdicts were handed down in two separate judicial sessions following what authorities described as one of the largest espionage cases uncovered in recent years

Yemen, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The Specialized Criminal Court in Sanaa has issued death sentences against 17 individuals after convicting them of espionage for multiple foreign intelligence services, including Saudi intelligence, US intelligence agencies, and the Israeli Mossad.

Two additional defendants received ten-year prison terms, while one person was acquitted. The verdicts were handed down in two separate judicial sessions following what authorities described as one of the largest espionage cases uncovered in recent years.

Death Sentences Issued by Public Firing Squad

The first court session, presided over by Judge Yahya al-Mansour, resulted in the conviction and death sentencing of ten individuals:

• Bashir Ali Mahdi

• Khalid Qasim Abdullah

• Nasser Ali al-Shaiba Nasser al-Hanishi

• Imad Shaya’ Muhammad

• Ali Muthanna Nasser

• Farouq Ali Rajih Hazam

• Ali Ahmad Ahmad

• Dhaif Allah Saleh Zuqam

• Abdulrahman Adel Abdulrahman

• Anas Ahmad Salman

All ten were sentenced to death by public execution, a ruling the court said was necessary “as a deterrent and to achieve general retribution.”

Two others — Huda Ali Saleh and Abdullah Abdullah Nashir — were sentenced to ten years in prison each.

In the second session, overseen by Judge Rabie al-Zubair, the court sentenced the following individuals to death:

• Sinan Abdulaziz Ali Saleh

• Nayef Yassin Abdullah Qaed

• Bassam Hassan Saleh

• Mujahid Mohammed Ali

• Ali Ali Ahmed Hamoud

• Hamoud Hassan Hamoud

• Majdi Mohammed Hussein

One defendant — Ali Ali Daghashar Mutahhar — was acquitted.

Charged With Spying for US, Saudi, and Israeli Intelligence

According to the Public Prosecution, the convicted network cooperated with Saudi, British, and American intelligence services while acting under the direction of Israeli Mossad operatives.

The prosecution stated that the defendants:

• received encrypted communication devices

• underwent training in surveillance technologies

• used hidden cameras and tracking applications

• transmitted sensitive information to foreign handlers

The espionage activities were said to have taken place between 2024 and 2025, involving the collection and transfer of highly sensitive political, military, and security data.

Information Leaked to Facilitate Attacks on Yemeni Territory

Court documents revealed that the network provided detailed intelligence on:

• the movements of Yemeni state leaders

• missile sites

• storage facilities

• military bases and installations

The defendants were also accused of planting surveillance equipment, recruiting additional operatives, and receiving financial compensation for intelligence activities.

The transferred information reportedly aided attacks on military, security, and civilian targets, resulting in the deaths of dozens and causing widespread damage to infrastructure.

Court: Sentences Issued as Deterrence for Harm to National Sovereignty

The court affirmed that the rulings were intended as deterrence and public retribution in response to “severe harm to national sovereignty” caused by the espionage operations.

Authorities emphasized that the case reflects the scale of foreign intelligence penetration attempts against Yemen during a critical period of regional escalation and confrontation. (PW)