The Gulf of Aden Franchise
The Houthis have turned Yemen’s war into a regional export business. Since 2023, they have reportedly built a weapons-and-training network with Somalia’s al-Shabaab, using smugglers and intermediaries across the Gulf of Aden.
The requested hardware reportedly included shoulder-fired air-defense missiles, 107mm rockets, anti-tank missiles, attack drones, night-vision gear and small arms.
A 2025 U.N. report said Houthi and al-Shabaab representatives met in Somalia at least twice in 2024. The reported deal was simple.
The Houthis would provide weapons and technical expertise. Al-Shabaab would expand piracy and help collect ransoms from ships off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
At least 100 al-Shabaab fighters are believed to have received training in Houthi-controlled Yemen, according to regional reporting.
The shared target is maritime control. Houthi networks want eyes on the African side of the Gulf of Aden, including radar and ship-tracking capacity.
Al-Shabaab wants weapons, cash and operational knowledge. Israel is a useful slogan for both sides. Cargo routes are the real asset.
The network’s alleged Somali coordinator was killed in a U.S. strike in February. Al-Shabaab reportedly replaced him. Smuggling networks do not collapse when one broker dies. They issue a vacancy notice.
In Yemen itself, Saudi-led coalition special forces and Yemen’s Counterterrorism Force 22 killed ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari in an operation that was meant to capture him. Yemeni authorities did not disclose the location.
One local source said the raid happened in Seiyun, Hadramout, and that al-Ansari died after being wounded and detained.
The coalition has removed one ISIS spokesman. The Houthis are building a maritime network across the water.
Counterterrorism is winning the press release. Smuggling is winning the geography.
#Yemen #Houthis #AlShabaab #RedSea
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The Houthis have turned Yemen’s war into a regional export business. Since 2023, they have reportedly built a weapons-and-training network with Somalia’s al-Shabaab, using smugglers and intermediaries across the Gulf of Aden.
The requested hardware reportedly included shoulder-fired air-defense missiles, 107mm rockets, anti-tank missiles, attack drones, night-vision gear and small arms.
A 2025 U.N. report said Houthi and al-Shabaab representatives met in Somalia at least twice in 2024. The reported deal was simple.
The Houthis would provide weapons and technical expertise. Al-Shabaab would expand piracy and help collect ransoms from ships off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
At least 100 al-Shabaab fighters are believed to have received training in Houthi-controlled Yemen, according to regional reporting.
The shared target is maritime control. Houthi networks want eyes on the African side of the Gulf of Aden, including radar and ship-tracking capacity.
Al-Shabaab wants weapons, cash and operational knowledge. Israel is a useful slogan for both sides. Cargo routes are the real asset.
The network’s alleged Somali coordinator was killed in a U.S. strike in February. Al-Shabaab reportedly replaced him. Smuggling networks do not collapse when one broker dies. They issue a vacancy notice.
In Yemen itself, Saudi-led coalition special forces and Yemen’s Counterterrorism Force 22 killed ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari in an operation that was meant to capture him. Yemeni authorities did not disclose the location.
One local source said the raid happened in Seiyun, Hadramout, and that al-Ansari died after being wounded and detained.
The coalition has removed one ISIS spokesman. The Houthis are building a maritime network across the water.
Counterterrorism is winning the press release. Smuggling is winning the geography.
#Yemen #Houthis #AlShabaab #RedSea
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