Iran Press/Middle East: An informed source from the leaders of the so-called 'Southern Transitional Council' has revealed that the UAE is reforming some aspects of the politics of southern Yemen, pledging to Iran to undo some political changes that have occurred there. The pledge was made as part of UAE's recent agreements with Iran.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arab 21 news site that important military and political leaders and a member of the Abu Dhabi-backed Southern Transitional Council would be one of the targets of the UAE in this political review.
The source said the revision is in the context of changing Abu Dhabi's position in Yemen and the UAE's recent understandings with Iran.
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According to the source, "the UAE has promised the Iranians to restore the political scene in the southern provinces of Yemen to how it was before."
The source further noted that political and factional disputes have heightened recently inside the Southern Transitional Council (formed in 2017 with the support of the UAE) and the faction of Aidarus Al Zubaidi (the head of the council) and Secretary-General of the Southern Transitional Council, Ahmed Hamid Lamlas currently sparring with one another.
The source suspects a recent driving accident for, Ahmed Lamlas in al-Shabwah province (south of Yemen) in which three of his fellow journalists were killed but Ahmed himself survived, claiming that one of the consequences of the UAE's commitment to Iran will be intelligence coordination with the Houthis [Ansarullah movement] in Yemen because the UAE is aware of the security situation in southern Yemen.
After periods of tension in the Persian Gulf, Brigadier General Qasem Rezaee, Border Guard Commander of Iranian Police met with Coast Guard Commander of the UAE Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Mesbah Al-Ahbabi last week for the first time since 2003 aiming at developing diplomatic ties and consolidating border security.
Various news sources have described the move as a reversal of Abu Dhabi's position following Iran's warnings and described it as Emiratis turning toward Iran.
On the other hand, the Israeli DEBKA Files has reported that the UAE and Saudi Arabia have quietly embarked on talks with Tehran.
According to DEBKA File, "Abu Dhabi marked the rapprochement by withdrawing its military forces from Yemen and handing over the islands in the mouth of Mandeb and a section of the Saudi western shore to a Yemeni militia."
DEBKA Files sources report that the Persian Gulf states, led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have concluded that the Donald Trump administration’s goals are not consistent with their own. 101/211/208
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