Yemen's Houthis Supplying Arms, Training to Somalia's Al-Shabaab

Yemeni Houthi rebels are reportedly supplying weapons and providing training in drone and explosives use to the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab, according to U.S. officials and security experts cited by the Financial Times. Houthi representatives are said to be regularly visiting Al-Shabaab-controlled areas in southern Somalia. This burgeoning alliance is seen as a significant threat to regional stability and global maritime security, potentially enhancing Al-Shabaab's military capabilities in the Horn of Africa.

In return, the Houthis may gain influence and the ability to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean. Security services in Mogadishu are concerned about the implications for Somalia, a nation long embroiled in internal conflict. While Al-Shabaab has reportedly requested advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft missile systems, from the Houthis, there is no current evidence of their deployment.

U.S. military operations may have disrupted some of these supply shipments, experts suggest. A primary objective of this collaboration appears to be countering Israel in the region. The Houthis are allegedly seeking permission to recruit fighters in Somalia and utilize the country as a base for observing the Gulf of Aden and launching attacks.