In a partnership that threatens to further destabilize Yemen, an impoverished country torn by conflict, the Iranian-backed Houthi militias are working with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, according to a report published by the British newspaper The Telegraph.

The newspaper quoted experts as saying that the Iranian-backed rebels are providing weapons to their former enemies in Al-Qaeda, and are exchanging prisoners with them to overthrow the Transitional Council in the south.

The newspaper added: “The Houthis are said to be helping Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula by giving them drones and releasing key figures from prison.”

She pointed out that "despite the ideological difference between the two groups, as the Houthis are Shiites and Al-Qaeda are Sunnis, they appear to be coordinating to regain control of southern Yemen from the Transitional Council."

The newspaper said, “Although the exact nature of the unlikely partnership between Al-Qaeda and the Houthis remains unclear – including the extent of the high level of cooperation – there is clear evidence of this.”

She added: “The most important evidence came in May 2023, when Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula carried out seven drone attacks on a group loyal to the Southern Transitional Council in Shabwa Governorate, southern Yemen.”

Robin Das of the International Center for Research on Political Violence and Terrorism in Singapore said: “Given that Al-Qaeda has limited technical capacity in developing its drones, especially after the recent deaths of their explosives experts, external support to obtain these weapons is essential.” It may have been decisive.”

The newspaper added: “The drones are said to have been obtained by Abu Osama al-Dayani, a Yemeni jihadist leader close to the late al-Qaeda leader, for unknown reasons, Khaled Batarfi, who maintained a close relationship with the Houthis.”

The newspaper noted that, “On the ground, local residents say that Al-Qaeda and the Houthis are no longer engaging in skirmishes with each other.”

Fernand Carvajal, who previously served on the UN Security Council panel of experts on Yemen, said: “It is clear that there are common interests between the two groups amid the protracted civil war, especially eliminating southern separatist ambitions.”

He added: “The Houthis aim to control the entire Yemeni territory, while Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to aim to establish a safe haven in the country.”

A local citizen told the newspaper: “Al-Qaeda fighters operate checkpoints on the road linking Shabwa to Al-Bayda Governorate and carry their flag. A few kilometers away on the same road, the Houthis operate checkpoints carrying their flag.”

The head of the South 24 Center for News and Studies, Iyad Qassem, told the Telegraph: “The involvement of the United States, Britain and European countries in the maritime conflict near the shores of Yemen represents a golden opportunity for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.”

He added that the organization may begin to expand its armed operations and “take advantage of the Houthis’ need to confront Western pressure under the slogan of confronting Israel.” He added: “If the pressure on the Houthis continues, Al-Qaeda may resort to carrying out operations in international waters or use the same tactics that He used it in his previous cross-border attacks.