Houthis, al-Qaeda betray fundamental principles with 'unholy alliance' in Yemen

After years of fierce enmity, al-Qaeda and the Houthis have formed an unlikely alliance that has seen the two groups cooperating in the face of intensifying international military pressure, despite their differences, analysts said.

The Iran-backed Houthis, who are rooted in Zaydism, a branch of Shia Islam, historically have been mortal enemies of al-Qaeda, which adheres to a Salafi-jihadist ideology that considers Shia Muslims heretics.

But evidence points to growing cooperation between the former foes, which has included Houthi assistance in helping al-Qaeda acquire missiles and drones, mutual prisoner exchanges and sharing intelligence on mutual enemies.

The two groups have set aside their differences to secure vital weapons smuggling routes and supply lines along Yemen's Red Sea coast and inland.

They have created an extensive weapons trafficking network between Yemen and Somalia, according to the CTC Sentinel, a counterterrorism research publication.

And there is evidence of al-Qaeda fighting alongside the Houthis in various provinces of Yemen.

Desperate measures

"The Houthis and al-Qaeda have fought many battles against each other, but what has brought them closer is necessity and the struggle to avoid collapse," Kabul-based military analyst Hossein Jafari told Salaam Times.

"For years, they have carried out killings and destabilization in the name of these beliefs. But now, under pressure and forced to abandon core ideologies, they are losing their supporters and becoming increasingly despised," Jafari said.

During the start of the current conflict in Yemen, which began with the Houthis' coup of September 2014, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) launched attacks against both the Houthis and the Yemeni government.

Yet over time the relationship between AQAP and the Houthis has shifted, with the two sides entering into an opportunistic alliance against common enemies, Nimruz-based military analyst Hamza Baloch told Salaam Times.

The growing alliance between al-Qaeda and the Houthis is not a sign of strength, he noted, but rather a reflection of their weakness and desperation.

"Both groups are facing severe shortages in manpower and resources and are significantly weaker than in the past," Baloch said.

Furthermore, he noted, the alliance between AQAP and the Houthis has severely undermined both groups' ideological credibility in Yemen and the broader region, which has weakened both groups and alienated their supporters.

Analysts predict it is only a matter of time before the two groups turn on each other again.

"There are deep religious and ideological differences between the two groups, and sooner or later, this alliance will give way to renewed hostility," Herat-based political analyst Mohammad Amin Zarifi told Salaam Times.