From Tel Aviv to Aden: A Mysterious Mission Reveals Alarming Ties
NYN | Reports and Analyses
A recent report by the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, later reviewed by the La newspaper in Sana’a, revealed a field visit made by Israeli journalist and security analyst Jonathan Spyer to the city of Aden.
According to the report, Spyer met with several military and security officials from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, as well as with leaders from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Spyer’s visit, which included stops in Aden and other areas under the control of the internationally recognized government, aimed to explore opportunities for military and security cooperation with local forces in southern Yemen against the Sana’a government. This comes amid escalating Yemeni operations in support of the Palestinian people—operations that have targeted Israeli shipping in the Red Sea and even locations within the occupied territories.
Meetings with Military and Security Leaders
The report states that Spyer met in Aden with Major General Saleh Ali Hassan, Head of the Joint Operations Authority. They discussed potential coordination with “local partners” to carry out military objectives against the Sana’a-based forces, including efforts to seize control of strategic coastal areas.
The Israeli journalist quoted Gen. Saleh Hassan as saying that they were awaiting a “green light” to begin military operations against the Sana’a government. He also spoke of parallel efforts targeting influential tribal figures such as Sheikh Amr bin Habrish in Hadhramaut, who opposes the agenda of the UAE-backed STC.
Spyer also met with the internationally recognized Defense Minister Mohsen Al-Daari, who expressed surprise at the U.S. decision to halt military operations against Sana’a without prior coordination with the Yemeni government.
Al-Daari explained that Washington neither informed them at the start of operations nor at their cessation, describing the lack of coordination as a setback to joint plans—once supported by the Arab coalition and Western countries—to topple the Sana’a authorities.
Israeli Agenda and Plans for Separation
In addition to those meetings, Spyer held extended talks with leaders of the Southern Transitional Council, gaining insight into their plans to split southern Yemen from the north, with clear backing from the UAE.
The STC delegation accompanied Spyer on a field tour of frontlines in Al-Dhale and Shabwah provinces, where local leaders presented their military demands—including the provision of drones, logistical support, and medium-grade weaponry.
At the Al-Fakher front, Spyer met Brigadier General Abdullah Mahdi, head of the STC branch in Al-Dhale. Mahdi stated openly: “We and the United States are fighting the same battle against the Houthis and Iran,” calling on the international community to support their efforts to secure international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.
Security Objectives Behind a Journalistic Cover
According to sources from La Media, Spyer’s visit—given his military and security background—appears to be part of a growing Israeli intelligence effort in Yemen.
Information indicates that the journalist, who is linked to Israeli research centers affiliated with Mossad, conducted a security assessment of key sites in Aden, including the Aden port and Al-Anad air base, in coordination with the UAE.
Spyer is a former member of the Israeli military and has participated in intelligence-oriented media missions in several countries, including Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He is known for using journalism as a cover for intelligence gathering, indicating that his trips are far from purely media-related.
Yemen Becomes a Central Front in Israeli Strategy
The most striking conclusion in The Jerusalem Post’s report is its assertion that Yemen is no longer a secondary front in Israel’s strategic calculations—but a central and urgent one. The shift comes as the Sana’a government has demonstrated its capability to threaten Israeli maritime activity and carry out precise strikes deep inside occupied territories.
This development reflects growing Israeli interest in Yemen, especially following the failure of the U.S. and its allies to stop the missile and naval attacks launched by Sana’a forces since October 2023 in support of Gaza—attacks that have remained effective despite repeated American and Israeli strikes on Yemen.
