By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2024-07-18

ADEN -- The Houthis have been supplying missiles and drones to al-Qaeda, threatening the stability of Yemen and the region and kicking off a new wave of violence in the former al-Qaeda strongholds of Abyan and Shabwa, experts said.

In May, al-Qaeda used Iranian-made drones to target tribal gatherings and sites in Wadi al-Jinan, east of Wadi Omran in Mudiyah district, Abyan province.

"The focus of al-Qaeda's activity in the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa is to counter the efforts made by the Southern Transitional Council (STC)," political analyst Faisal Ahmed told Al-Fassel.

The STC's agenda conflicts with the Houthis' aspirations to seize control of all of Yemen, he noted, suggesting that "this is one explanation for Houthi and Iranian support of al-Qaeda with drones and missiles."

Al-Qaeda's cooperation with the Houthis is "a total change in approach," as al-Qaeda has been a military and sectarian opponent of the Houthis, he said.

It became an ally because of Iran's embrace of the group's leader, Saif al-Adel.

"Accordingly, the group's leader in Yemen, Saad al-Awlaki, will be committed to the strategic relationship with the Houthis" despite local opposition, Ahmed said.

"The Houthis' supply of drones, missiles and related equipment to al-Qaeda underscores the high level of trust between the two sides, and the extent of Iran's influence over al-Qaeda," he said.

Joint operations

In addition to cooperation between the Houthis and al-Qaeda in Shabwa, Abyan and al-Bayda, the Houthis, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and al-Qaeda also run a joint operations room in Sanaa, political analyst Mahmoud al-Taher told Al-Fassel.

"The Houthis' goal is to integrate operations with al-Qaeda against the Yemeni government and the STC to destabilize and undermine security and public peace," al-Taher said.

The Houthis are supplying al-Qaeda with thermal missiles, drones and reconnaissance equipment, enabling it to carry out complex attacks to destabilize the region and extend beyond the borders of Yemen, he added.

The Houthis are also supplying Somalia's al-Shabaab with weapons, Deputy Minister of Justice Faisal al-Majeedi told Al-Fassel.

The cooperation between the two groups goes against any plan for stability in Yemen and the region, al-Majeedi said.

"This indicates the Houthis are looking to play an explosive role in Yemen and the region by continuing the war and violence and expanding their sphere of influence across the region and beyond," he said.