UAE Secretly Supports Houthi Fighters Against Saudi Arabia

UAE Covertly Supports Ansarallah

The UAE has been secretly sharing targeting assistance with Ansarallah in its conflict against Saudi-backed forces inside Yemen.

“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”

UAE Provides Intelligence to Ansarallah

UAE-aligned Yemeni forces share intelligence with Ansarallah for targeting Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen.

UAE and Ansarallah: Ideological Enemies

The UAE is a close ally of Israel and the US while Ansarallah is a close ally of Iran, creating ideological opposition.

UAE's Strategic Foothold in Yemen

The UAE was sidelined in Yemen earlier this year by Saudi Arabia and seeks to regain strategic influence.

UAE's Intelligence Assistance

UAE provides direct intelligence sharing to Ansarallah for targeting Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.

UAE's Neutrality Claim

Ansarallah official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti claims UAE remains neutral and has not supported Yemen against Saudi Arabia.

“the uae has not provided any form of support to yemen, neither against saudi arabia nor against its proxies within yemen”

Houthi Military Advances

Ansarallah recently controlled the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping lane, after routing Saudi-backed forces.

UAE's Historical Role in Yemen

The UAE was previously allied with Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni conflict but was expelled in 2025 due to internal disagreements.

UAE's Military Operations

UAE-backed forces conducted airstrikes against Saudi-backed military units in Aden, Abyan, and Marib in 2019.

UAE's Intelligence Capabilities

The UAE has advanced intelligence gathering capabilities including Project Raven and Pegasus spyware.

UAE's Strategic Shift

The UAE is now secretly supporting Ansarallah to counter Saudi influence in Yemen.

UAE's Military Withdrawal

The UAE withdrew from the Saudi-led coalition in December 2025 after Saudi airstrikes targeted UAE military equipment.

UAE's Current Position

UAE claims it will not rejoin the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite pressure from Saudi Arabia.

Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia

Ansarallah has conducted strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one that killed 12 people and wounded over 300.

UAE's Military Withdrawal Impact

UAE's withdrawal has stalled military operations in southern Yemen, particularly in Al-Dhale and Lahj.

UAE's Future Stance

UAE states it will not rejoin the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen unless Saudi Arabia ends the war and lifts the blockade.