While the threat from the Houthis in Yemen escalated, forces in southern Yemen showed a surprising willingness to cooperate with Israel, it was published last night at 'KAN 11'. The Southern Separatist Movement forces supported by the Emirates and whose stronghold is located in the port city of Aden in southern Yemen behave differently from the Houthis who control the capital Sana'a and the north.
In the last few days, the president of the Transitional Council in South Yemen, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, held quite a few talks with officials in Israel, officials in the Emirates, and American officials, to discuss dealing with the escalation of the Houthis who are supported by Iran. A source close to al-Zoubaidi explained that the Transitional Council in South Yemen is interested in curbing Houthi terrorism and receiving international support, including support from Israel.
A senior political official said that at the end of last week, al-Zoubaidi emphasized in one of his meetings that the forces in South Yemen were prepared to play a central role in securing the shipping lane in the Red Sea with the regional and international partners. "If Israel recognizes our right to self-determination in South Yemen, you will find an ally on the ground against the Houthi threat," he said.
Following the Houthis' takeover of Sana'a a decade ago, Yemen was divided into several centers of power and there is competition in the south between government forces supported by Saudi Arabia, and those separatist forces supported by the Emirates and striving to gain independence and officially split from the northern part, as was the case in the past.