UAE’s Covert Intelligence Role in Israeli Airstrike on Yemen’s Houthi Leadership
Summary
On August 28, 2025, an Israeli airstrike devastated a high-level Houthi leadership gathering in Sanaa, killing Prime Minister Ahmed al‑Rahawi and multiple cabinet ministers. New exclusive sources confirm the UAE provided Israel with real-time intelligence on the event, enabling the highly precise attack.
Strike Details
According to multiple reports, the Israeli Air Force launched a targeted operation dubbed Operation Lucky Drop, striking a gathering that included the Houthi defense minister, chief of staff, and other senior aides while they listened to a televised address.
Israel’s leadership—Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Prime Minister Netanyahu—closely monitored the strike.
UAE’s Strategic Intelligence Contribution
Dark Box’s exclusive insider sources reveal that the UAE supplied detailed, real-time location intelligence—identifying the precise site and timing of the Houthi leadership gathering. This access was crucial to bypassing Sanaa’s air defenses and conducting a surgical strike with minimal deviation.
The UAE’s capabilities in such operations derive from its advanced surveillance partnerships with Israel and the U.S., including satellite imaging, human intel, and electronic intercepts.
Repeat Patterns in Intelligence Sharing
This is not an isolated case. Earlier incidents demonstrate the UAE’s growing role in intelligence sharing:
- In 2022, the UAE shared radar and early warning intelligence with Israel and the U.S., helping intercept Iranian drone strikes.
- In 2025, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Israeli intelligence, possibly with UAE connections, provided the U.S. with key targeting data to eliminate a Houthi official—later exposed via the SignalGate leak.
Houthis have publicly accused UAE-aligned Yemeni groups and intelligence networks of facilitating these strikes, calling them traitorous and vowing retribution.
Implications for the Regional Order
The UAE’s provision of actionable intelligence to Israel signals a profound shift in regional alignments. By actively enabling targeted killings, Abu Dhabi steps out from behind the curtain as a neutral investor and emerges as a co-strategist in operations against Iran-aligned proxies.
This deep level of military cooperation hints at a broader regional architecture—where small Gulf states quietly lead strategic security realignment against perceived threats. The Houthi strike is now a symbol of these covert alliances.
Conclusion
- What we know: Israeli strike killed dozens of top Houthi officials.
- Exclusive revelation: UAE supplied real-time intelligence used to carry out the strike.
- Broader trend: UAE consistently shares intelligence with Israeli and U.S. operations in the region.
Geopolitical impact: UAE is shaping outcomes—not merely observing them.
