Abraham Golan is a Hungarian-Israeli security contractor known as the founder of Spear Operations Group, a private military company (PMC) that conducted high-profile operations in Yemen.[1] His work in Yemen—especially assassination missions targeting political figures—was contracted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has led to international scrutiny regarding the ethics and legality of private military operations in active conflict zones.[2]
Abraham Golan | |
|---|---|
 Golan in front of a UAE military aircraft | |
| Born | Hungary |
| Allegiance | French Foreign Legion, Israeli Special Forces |
| Other work | Founder of Spear Operations Group |
Early life
editGolan holds dual citizenship in Hungary and Israel, with a background that includes service in the French Foreign Legion, Israeli Defense Forces and experience in the private security sector across Africa. His expertise eventually led him to the United States, where he continued his career in defense contracting and founded Spear Operations Group in 2015.[1]
Founding of Spear Operations Group
editSpear Operations Group, established in Delaware, USA, initially hired American military veterans and former French Foreign Legion soldiers to fulfill contracts with the UAE in Yemen.[3] Under Golan's leadership, the group pursued the UAE's objectives within the Yemeni Civil War, targeting high-ranking members of Al-Islah, Yemen's Islamist political party affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The UAE viewed Al-Islah as a threat to its influence and national security interests in Yemen and contracted Spear for covert, targeted operations.
Operations and controversial assassination missions
editOne of the first and most publicized missions undertaken by Golan's team was the attempted assassination of Anssaf Ali Mayo, a leader of Al-Islah, in 2015.[4] Although the mission was unsuccessful, it drove the leader out of the country, and marked the beginning of a series of targeted killings that continued over several months, with Spear Operations Group remaining active in Yemen. The UAE supplied Golan's team with equipment, weapons, and Emirati military credentials, embedding them within local Emirati-backed forces.[5] This alignment, blending private contractors with national military assets, blurred lines between sovereign military operations and privatized military interventions.
Legal and ethical backlash
editGolan's work in Yemen ignited significant controversy in the United States, as reports emerged suggesting American citizens were involved in potentially illegal assassination missions.[6] U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bob Menendez called on federal authorities to investigate whether Golan's operations breached the War Crimes Act, which prohibits civilians from conducting military operations on foreign soil.[7][2] Critics argue that such PMCs lack the accountability of state forces, raising concerns over private military contractors' role in conflicts, potential war crimes, and ethical accountability.
Despite these concerns, Golan has publicly defended his company's actions, claiming they align with counter-terrorism efforts critical to regional stability.[6] He argues that privatized solutions like those provided by Spear Operations Group address security threats effectively, even as international debate around the role and regulation of PMCs persists.
References
edit- ^ a b Clark, James. "Former US special operators were reportedly hired to assassinate Yemeni political figures". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ a b Keller, Megan (2018-10-22). "Warren wants probe into whether former U.S. soldiers worked as assassins for UAE". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ Uqba, Sana (16 October 2018). "UAE hired Israeli mercenary to lead US death squad on Yemen assassination spree". al-Araby. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
- ^ Roston, Aram (2018-10-16). "A Middle East Monarchy Hired American Ex-Soldiers To Kill Its Political Enemies. This Could Be The Future Of War". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ Shickman, Ittai (2018-10-17). "The Israeli assassin who teamed up with Mohammad Dahlan". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ a b Lemon, Jason (2018-10-16). "Saudi-Led Coalition Hired American Mercenaries in Yemen". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ Goodman, Ryan; Knuckey, Sarah (2018-10-18). "DOJ Must Investigate Possible War Crimes by American Mercenaries in Yemen". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2024-10-27.