Sanaa, Yemen — A Houthi-controlled court in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa has handed down a death sentence to 18 UN aid workers for allegedly spying for Israel, according to a report by Xinhua.
The court ruled that those convicted, all employed by UN humanitarian agencies, will be executed by firing squad in a public square. Two other defendants — including a woman — received 10-year prison sentences on the same charges.
In its verdict, the court accused the aid workers of providing Israel, the U.S., the U.K., and Saudi Arabia with intelligence on Houthi leaders’ whereabouts, military installations, and missile storage sites. It also claimed they recruited locals, installed surveillance cameras, and carried out paid surveillance, which fueled attacks on military and civilian targets.
The convictions come amid heightened tensions following a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks toward Israel, and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the ruling, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel. He warned that targeting aid workers compromises critical humanitarian efforts and increases the risk of famine in Yemen. (Xinhua)