The Specialized Criminal Court in the capital Sana’a convened its first session on Saturday to try 13 defendants accused of collaborating with the enemy as part of an alleged CIA-linked espionage network.

Presided over by Judge Yahya Al-Mansour, and in the presence of Chief Prosecutor Judge Abdullah Zahra, Deputy Prosecutor Judge Sarem Al-Din Mufaddal, and prosecution members Judges Khaled Omar, Salah Al-Shahari, Abdulmalik Ishaq, and Hamzah Al-Ansi—alongside several defense lawyers—the court confronted the defendants with the charges and reviewed the prosecution’s evidence dossier.

The court heard the defendants’ responses and their request to obtain copies of their case files, followed by the prosecution’s comments and motions. The bench ruled to continue reviewing the evidence list in the next session, in accordance with legal procedures.

According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly spied for the United States and the Israeli entity from 1987 through 2024, operating under the guidance of American intelligence officers and managing their activities both inside Yemen and abroad.

They are accused of gathering sensitive information on military, security, political, economic, and social affairs under the guise of development and humanitarian projects—actions the prosecution argues undermined Yemen’s national interests. 

The indictment further claims they worked to recruit individuals and officials on behalf of U.S. and Israeli intelligence, submitting proposals that served enemy objectives.

The charges also include participating in actions that compromised Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; weakening the country’s defensive capabilities; and aiding the Saudi-led coalition.

The prosecution asserts that the defendants received training in building intelligence cells, recruiting informants, and managing covert operations.