A court run by Yemen's Houthi rebels sentenced four journalists to death for "treason" and espionage, a judicial official and their lawyer have said.

The four were among a group of 10 journalists who were detained by the Iran-backed rebels and accused of "collaborating with the enemy," in reference to the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, lawyer Abdel-Majeed Sabra said on Saturday.

Sabra identified the four who were sentenced to death as Abdel-Khaleq Amran, Akram al-Walidi, Hareth Hamid and Tawfiq al-Mansouri.

The court in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, convicted the other six journalists on similar charges, including "spreading false news and rumours" to aid the coalition, but ordered their release after time served, Sabra said.

A legal official confirmed the judgement to the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

The court "sentenced four journalists to death on charges of treason and spying for foreign states", the official said.