UAE has been secretly assisting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in their fight against Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, according to a report by Drop Site News.Citing four sources familiar with the matter, Drop Site News reported that UAE-aligned Yemeni forces had been providing targeting assistance to the Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, while Abu Dhabi turned a blind eye. Two sources further alleged that the UAE had directly shared intelligence with the rebels to help them target Saudi-backed government forces inside Yemen.A Yemeni source familiar with communication channels between the two sides told Drop Site News that “the UAE has passed a significant amount of intelligence to the Sana’a-based government; the line of communication between the two sides remains open.”The source told Drop Site news that the Houthis had established their own communication channels with military commanders loyal to the UAE. The sources spoke anonymously, citing their lack of authorisation to discuss the alleged arrangement publicly.UAE-Houthi cooperation amid regional tensionsThe alleged cooperation is significant given the UAE and the Houthis’ opposing ideological and geopolitical positions. Abu Dhabi is closely aligned with Washington and Israel, while the Houthis maintain close ties with Iran.However, Drop Site News reported that their interests had partially converged after Saudi Arabia sidelined the UAE in Yemen earlier this year, potentially giving Abu Dhabi an opportunity to regain strategic influence in the country.The developments come as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and fighting inside Yemen intensify. The rebels have also targeted Saudi infrastructure, including the kingdom’s main airport, with attacks reportedly killing 12 people and injuring more than 300. The strikes also led to the cancellation of the Future Investment Initiative conference, widely known as ‘Davos in the Desert’.Meanwhile, Yemeni government officials have appealed for international support as the Houthis tighten their encirclement of Taiz. Officials have reported intensified fighting, attacks on residential districts and restricted access to water supplies, although some claims have not been independently verified.Regional diplomatic efforts are also under way to contain the escalating tensions. Egypt’s foreign minister has held talks with his Saudi and Emirati counterparts, while Cairo has announced military support for Saudi Arabia, describing it as strictly defensive.Iran, meanwhile, has called for regional countries to manage their own security through dialogue, opposing military intervention by outside powers.
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