By Muslim Mirror Web Desk
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly funded politically motivated assassinations in Yemen, according to a BBC investigation. This revelation has exacerbated the ongoing conflict between the Yemeni government and various militant factions, bringing it to the forefront of the international community’s attention.
The investigation uncovered that American mercenaries provided counter-terrorism training to Emirati officers in Yemen, enabling discreet operations that contributed to the rise in political assassinations. A whistleblower informed BBC Arabic Investigations that the training, ostensibly aimed at combating jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) in southern Yemen, inadvertently led to the recruitment of former al-Qaeda members into a security force created by the UAE to combat the Houthi rebel movement and other armed factions.
The UAE government has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as “false and without merit.” The surge in political assassinations, surpassing 100 cases in three years, is just one facet of the complex internal conflict in Yemen, where international powers are entangled in a struggle for influence.
The deteriorating situation has hindered the permanent return of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, indirectly strengthening the position of the Houthi rebels supported by Iran. Recent aggressive actions by the Houthis, including attacks on ships and disruptions in the Red Sea, have heightened tensions.
In response, the United States has announced its intention to reclassify the Houthi group as “global terrorists.” Since the conflict’s inception in 2014, Yemen has seen the government lose control of the north to the Houthi rebels, who have grown increasingly powerful with improved weaponry. In 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, with the UAE as a major partner, intervened to restore the exiled government to power and combat terrorism.
The UAE, tasked with securing the south, became a key player in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in the region. However, the unintended consequences of the training provided to Emirati officers have now come to light, shedding a troubling light on the complexities of the Yemen conflict and the involvement of external actors.