Photo: Collected
US intelligence is concerned about the Yemeni Houthis' alleged plans to begin supplying weapons to the al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia (banned in Russia), which could further destabilize the region.
According to three US officials, the Biden administration is currently trying to find out whether the Houthis have already managed to deliver weapons to Somalia and whether Iran played any role here.
In recent weeks, the United States has been issuing warnings to its partners in the region about this arrangement between the Houthis and al-Shabaab while African countries have voiced their concerns about this development.
Arms shipments to Somalia would give the Houthis a new source of income, which is a concern for the United States after Washington has spent much effort trying to cut off Yemeni rebels' sources of financing their operations as much as possible.
Being able to sell some weapons would bring the Houthis much needed income, one of the US officials quoted as saying.
US officials still do not know what kind of weapons they're going through, but they suspect the Houthis could supply al-Shabaab with more than just rockets and mortars. The Houthis are known for using their aerial and underwater drones, which could certainly be of interest to their Somali counterparts.
Al-Shabaab is a Somalia-based jihadist militant group linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist group. It wages armed resistance against the Somali government and obstructs UN humanitarian missions in the country.
Messenger/Mumu
