Encircling Sana’a: Are the UAE and Israel Seeking to Isolate It Through Intelligence Operations?
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Recent Western reports indicate that Yemen has become a central player in the heart of the region’s geopolitical shifts, having successfully disrupted American and Israeli domination projects through unprecedented military actions since the launch of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” in October 2023.
In an extensive report, The Cradle explained that the naval and aerial attacks carried out by Sana’a’s forces have shifted the balance of power in the Red Sea, turning this vital maritime corridor into a strategic pressure point that has impacted U.S. and Israeli interests — with repercussions even reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
The report added that Washington was forced to accept a temporary halt to its direct military operations after failing to break the maritime blockade imposed by Sana’a on ships linked to Israel, noting that Sana’a has managed to establish a new deterrence equation that has disrupted U.S. plans in the region.
According to the outlet, the U.S. failure to dismantle the Yemeni front has led to the adoption of parallel strategies focused on a concentrated intelligence war targeting Yemen’s internal structure, attempting to turn the country into a proxy battleground for reconfiguring spheres of influence in West Asia.
In this context, the report revealed an expansion of Emirati-Israeli activity in southern Yemen and strategic islands such as Socotra, Mayun, and Abd al-Kuri. These locations have seen the establishment of air bases, surveillance systems, and drone platforms, under the direct supervision of Israeli officers operating within what is known as the “Crystal Ball” intelligence coordination platform.
It also noted that the UAE is using humanitarian fronts such as the Red Crescent to set up detention centers and intelligence facilities, while the Southern Transitional Council (STC) facilitates normalization efforts in exchange for political backing for southern secession.
According to the report, Shabwa province has become a logistical hub housing airstrips and drone operation training centers overseen by foreign military personnel. Meanwhile, joint American-Israeli teams are providing logistical support to allied factions with the goal of draining Sana’a’s resources and opening new internal fronts.
The newspaper concluded by affirming that Sana’a has managed to turn mounting pressure into strategic gains and has proven to be a pillar of the emerging regional balance—transforming from a war victim into a key actor in shaping the future of the regional conflict.
