Following the commencement of his country’s bombing campaign in Yemen in 2015, the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, discreetly approached an old acquaintance: retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis.

Serving as the deputy supreme commander of the Emirati military, Sheikh Mohamed sought assistance as the UAE was part of a coalition engaged in Yemen’s civil war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Despite the coalition’s aerial operations resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties and proving ineffective against the Houthis, Mohamed, recognizing the escalating regional complexity, enlisted Mattis, a retired Marine General with extensive experience in Middle Eastern and Afghan conflicts, to serve as a military adviser.

Adhering to federal regulations, Mattis submitted an application in June 2015, seeking approval from the Marines and the State Department to provide counsel to Mohamed and the United Arab Emirates, The Washington Post is reporting.

His appeal was notably uncommon: a renowned four-star Marine requesting permission to serve as a personal consultant to a foreign head of state regarding an ongoing conflict.

Adding complexity, the U.S. military found itself embroiled in the conflict.

Shortly after the initiation of the bombing campaign, the Obama administration decided to assist the Arab coalition’s air forces, headed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, providing aerial refueling and intelligence.

However, concerns mounted among U.S. officials regarding the rising civilian casualties in coalition airstrikes in Yemen.

Nevertheless, U.S. officials promptly granted approval for Mattis’s request.

Subsequently, efforts were made to keep his advisory involvement in the Yemeni war and his collaboration with Mohamed concealed from public knowledge.

Written by B.C. Begley