A report by The Times of London has affirmed a deepening, covert relationship between the Israeli enemy and factions within the Saudi-Emirati led coalition in Yemen, specifically naming the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
According to the report, the STC has sent delegations to meet with “Israeli” officials, united by a “common cause” against Sana’a. The report suggests these contacts move beyond indirect signals into tangible political coordination.
A significant claim within the report is that the STC hopes to gain support from figures like US President Donald Trump to expand normalization with “Israel” in exchange for recognition upon any future independence of southern Yemen. This, if accurate, would position the STC’s separatist project within a broader framework of US-brokered Arab-Israeli normalization efforts.
Analysts cited in the accompanying commentary suggest that any future military or political escalation by coalition-backed factions should be viewed not merely as a local or Gulf-driven initiative, but as part of a proxy strategy ultimately serving Israeli security interests.
They argue Israel views a strong presence for the Yemeni Armed Forces, with its demonstrated capability to threaten Red Sea shipping, as a direct threat, and may seek local allies to counter it.
The reports would represent a significant geopolitical shift, indicating that the Yemen conflict is increasingly intertwined with the regional standoff between Israel and the “Axis of Resistance.” It would also highlight how local Yemeni factions might leverage international alliances, including with Israel, to advance their domestic political goals.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a key faction in southern Yemen backed by the United Arab Emirates, seeks the secession of South Yemen.
Tensions have escalated in Yemen’s eastern provinces as UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces expand control over key areas in Hadhramaut and Mahrah. Analysts view these movements as part of a broader geopolitical struggle involving regional and international powers seeking influence over Yemen’s strategic coasts, ports, and energy corridors.
