Aden : Recent intelligence reports have revealed a growing relationship between Yemen’s Houthi militias and Somalia’s Al-Shabaab, involving arms exchanges and military training. According to a United Nations Security Council report published in October 2024, the Houthis have smuggled drones and surface-to-air missiles to Al-Shabaab, reflecting a strategic partnership between the two groups.

A U.S. intelligence report from June 2024 indicated that Al-Shabaab fighters had traveled to Yemen for advanced training on Iranian-made weaponry, posing an increasing threat to regional security. The report also noted that this collaboration persists despite ideological differences between the two factions—Al-Shabaab follows Salafi jihadist ideology, whereas the Houthis adhere to Zaydi Shia beliefs.

Security officials warn that this alliance could lead to intensified terrorist attacks in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, raising international concerns about its impact on regional stability. Neither the Houthis nor Al-Shabaab have issued official statements regarding these accusations, while governments in the region continue to monitor the situation closely.