A website specializing in military and security affairs revealed that security sources revealed that the Houthi group, Iran’s arm in northern Yemen, released an Al-Qaeda leader and members of the organization from one of the prisons controlled by the group as part of a plan to coordinate operations in the Yemeni governorates subject to the legitimate, internationally recognized government. In the latest cooperation operation between the Houthi group, which is classified as a terrorist organization, and Al-Qaeda.

Sources reported to "Defense Line" that the Houthi group released the leader of Al-Qaeda (A.M.R), known as "Abu Ata", along with a number of Al-Qaeda members from the central prison in Sana'a as part of a bilateral deal to coordinate the implementation of joint operations between The two organizations whose cooperation has become increasingly close.

The deal between the two groups included facilitating the crossing of the leader “Abu Ata” and his group from areas controlled by the Houthis to the southern governorates subject to the legitimate government, as part of a plan to carry out terrorist attacks and coordinate security, intelligence and logistical operations. According to the sources.

According to Defense Line information, the leader “Abu Atta” is one of the leaders of Al-Qaeda involved in the suicide attack that targeted soldiers from the Special Security Forces (formerly Central Security) on May 21, 2012 in Al-Sabeen Square in the capital, Sana’a, during the soldiers’ rehearsals and preparations for a parade. Military, and Al-Qaeda then claimed responsibility for the horrific attack, which resulted in the killing of 86 officers and soldiers and the injury of dozens.

This deal is not the first between the Houthis and Al-Qaeda, as the two organizations have concluded many similar deals since 2016 AD that led to the exchange of prisoners between the two parties, but the relationship between them has developed into security cooperation and coordination of operations.

In its latest report, the UN Security Council Group of Experts on Yemen touched on cooperation between the Houthi and Al-Qaeda organizations, and described the relationship between them as close and an “opportunistic alliance.”

The UN team revealed security and intelligence cooperation between the two groups, which includes providing safe havens for their members, strengthening their strongholds, and coordinating efforts to target government forces.

The report submitted to the Security Council last October indicated that the Houthis and Al-Qaeda have been coordinating their operations directly since the beginning of 2024... revealing an agreement between the two organizations for the Houthis to transport drones, thermal missiles, and explosive devices, and to provide training to Al-Qaeda fighters.

Adding that the two groups discussed the possibility of the organization providing support in attacks launched on maritime targets. According to government sources, the organization's stockpiles include small arms, light weapons and related ammunition, bombs, improvised explosive devices, and landmines, as well as vacuum missiles and man-portable air defense systems. According to the report.

While sources say that the Houthis had previously trained Al-Qaeda members to use drones to carry out attacks, Al-Qaeda uses unmanned aircraft in its attacks against government forces in Abyan and Shabwa.