British magazine The Times revealed in a report published today that contacts have taken place between Zionist officials and representatives of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias.

According to the report, the rapprochement between the two sides is based on what the British outlet described as a “shared cause,” namely confronting Sana’a forces, which have carried out missile and drone operations against the Zionist occupation entity over the past two years.

Sources cited said the STC is signaling its readiness to recognize Israel immediately upon declaring the so-called “independence of South Yemen,” viewing such recognition as a key bargaining chip to secure international backing for its separatist project.

The report added that the STC hopes to gain the support of the criminal Donald Trump’s administration to expand normalization with the Israeli entity, in exchange for international recognition should “South Yemen’s independence” be announced.

Separately, Israeli media outlets had previously reported on visits by Zionist representatives to Aden, which remains under the control of the aggression and its mercenaries.