Yemen's Houthis and Somalia's Al-Shabaab Forge Alliance Threatening Israel
A burgeoning terror alliance between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Somalia's Al-Shabaab militant group poses a growing threat to Israel and the United States, potentially destabilizing a crucial global shipping route. According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, the two organizations, once rivals due to religious differences, are now engaged in extensive arms trading, knowledge transfer, and terrorist training. They are reportedly coordinating efforts to counter a potential Israeli presence in Somaliland, with a particular focus on the strategic port city of Berbera.
The concern stems from Israel's December recognition of Somaliland's independence, which the Houthis fear could lead to Israel establishing a base to monitor them and launch attacks in Yemen. Berbera boasts a runway so long that NASA once leased it for emergency space shuttle landings. In June, a four-member Houthi delegation crossed the Gulf of Aden to southern Somalia, meeting with Al-Shabaab leaders in Jilib. Reports indicate the Houthis sought to disrupt Israeli activities in Berbera and pledged advanced weaponry and training in return.
Michael Milstein, a former senior Israeli intelligence official, stated that the Houthi threat was a key consideration in Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland, suggesting a military presence there would strengthen Israel's position against the Houthis. The Israeli government has not commented. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has publicly stated his group is monitoring Israeli activities in Somaliland, accusing Israel of seeking control of the Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb strait, and Red Sea, and threatening to attack any Israeli presence.
A key figure in forging this alliance is Jibril Yahya Ali, a Somali national known as "the one-armed man," who has acted as a liaison between the groups since at least 2023, facilitating arms deals and smuggling weapons from Yemen to Somalia. Al-Shabaab, a major Al-Qaeda affiliate, has provided funds, while the Houthis have supplied advanced weaponry and technological expertise, reportedly with Iranian assistance. Jibril Yahya Ali was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen on February 12, but the cooperation has continued with Al-Shabaab appointing a successor.
The alliance involves sophisticated arms transfers, often disguised as civilian goods, moving from Yemen to Somalia via speedboats and fishing vessels. Al-Shabaab has sent at least 100 members to Yemen for training in advanced weaponry and explosives, while Houthi instructors are reportedly going to Somalia. Al-Shabaab, with an estimated annual income of at least $100 million from extortion, road blocks, port activities, and gold mining, is capable of financing these operations. The strategic locations of Yemen and Somalia flanking the Gulf of Aden, a vital shipping lane, amplify the significance of this alliance, with potential implications for global oil transport and security.
