The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday the withdrawal of its remaining forces in Yemen after Saudi Arabia earlier set a 24-hour deadline for their departure.
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that it has decided to end the remaining presence of its counter-terrorism teams in Yemen, citing recent developments and their potential impact on the safety and effectiveness of ongoing missions, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
"The Ministry of Defence announces the termination of the remaining counter-terrorism teams in Yemen," a statement from the ministry said, adding that Abu Dhabi made the move "of its own volition, ensuring the safety of its personnel, and in coordination with relevant partners".
The announcement follows a statement issued earlier today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressing the current situation in Yemen and clarifying the facts surrounding the presence of the UAE Armed Forces in the country within the framework of the Arab Coalition in support of legitimacy.
In its statement, the Ministry of Defence reaffirmed that the UAE has participated in the Arab Coalition since 2015 in support of legitimacy in Yemen, in coordination with international efforts to combat terrorist organisations and to contribute to the security and stability of the brotherly Yemeni people. The ministry noted that Emirati personnel made significant sacrifices in pursuit of these objectives.
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday called on the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen and cease providing support to any groups in the country within 24 hours, backing a similar call from the Yemeni government in Aden.
"The Kingdom stresses the importance of the sisterly state of the United Arab Emirates responding to the Republic of Yemen's request for the withdrawal of its military forces from the Republic of Yemen within 24 hours, and for the cessation of any military or financial support to any party inside Yemen," the foreign ministry said in a statement published online.
Saudi Arabia expressed regret over what it described as pressure by the United Arab Emirates on Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to carry out military operations in Yemen’s Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates, warning that such actions pose a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security and regional stability.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reported moves were inconsistent with the principles of the Arab Coalition that supports the internationally recognised government of Yemen and undermined ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability in the country.
The ministry referred to earlier statements by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and the coalition leadership concerning the movement of ships carrying weapons and heavy vehicles from Fujairah port to Mukalla without official authorization.
Saudi Arabia stressed that any threat to its national security constituted a “red line,” adding that it would not hesitate to take all necessary measures to confront and neutralize such risks.
The Kingdom reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s security, stability, and sovereignty, as well as its full backing of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and its government. It also reiterated that the southern issue is a just cause that can only be addressed through dialogue as part of a comprehensive political solution involving all Yemeni parties, including the STC.
Riyadh further emphasized the importance of the UAE responding to Yemen’s request to withdraw its military forces within 24 hours and to halt military or financial support to any Yemeni faction.
The statement called for wisdom to prevail in order to preserve Gulf unity, bilateral relations, and the shared goal of regional stability and development.
Yemen declares state of emergency
The leader of Yemen's presidential council declared a state of emergency and cancelled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after Abu Dhabi-backed separatists seized swathes of territory.
"The Joint Defence Agreement with the United Arab Emirates is hereby cancelled," a statement said, while a separate decree announced a 90-day state of emergency including a 72-hour air, sea and land blockade.
The announcements by Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, come after the Saudi-led coalition fighting in divided Yemen said it struck a UAE weapons shipment destined for the separatists.
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (SCT) forces have swept through the south of Yemen this month, taking most of resource-rich Hadramawt province and swathes of neighbouring Mahrah.
Alimi ordered the SCT to hand over the territory to Saudi-backed forces, calling the separatists' advance an "unacceptable rebellion" in a televised address.
The confrontation risks tearing apart the already fractured Yemeni government, which has different factions backed by oil-rich Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
It also threatens slow-moving peace negotiations with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who ousted the government from the capital Sanaa in 2014, triggering a military intervention by the Saudi-led coalition.
AFP adds:
The UAE denied shipping weapons to Yemeni separatists after Riyadh said it struck an Emirati weapons shipment destined for separatist forces and sent by Abu Dhabi.
"The shipment in question did not contain any weapons, and the vehicles unloaded were not intended for any Yemeni party," government spokesperson Afra Al Hameli wrote on X, adding the arrival of the shipment had been coordinated with Riyadh.
The UAE also rebuffed accusations from Saudi Arabia that it was fanning the conflict in Yemen.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United Arab Emirates affirms its total rejection of the allegations related to fuelling the Yemeni conflict".
Agencies