The United Arab Emirates said it would withdraw its remaining troops from Yemen after Saudi Arabia demanded an exit within 24 hours amid rising tensions over a rapid offensive by Abu Dhabi‑backed separatists.
Background
Emirati forces originally deployed to Yemen as part of the Saudi‑led coalition against the Iran‑aligned Houthi movement after the Houthis seized large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. The UAE largely withdrew in 2019 but maintained a limited presence in southern Yemen, where a patchwork of militias and local authorities — including the Southern Transitional Council (STC) — exert influence.
Recent Developments
The UAE defence ministry said it was pulling back "counter‑terrorism teams... of its own volition" while denying any direct role in the STC's recent advance. Earlier on Tuesday, Yemen's presidential council and Saudi Arabia both demanded the withdrawal of Emirati troops.
Before dawn, the Saudi‑led coalition struck a shipment at Mukalla port, saying it contained weapons destined for separatist forces; the UAE rejected that allegation and said the cargo comprised vehicles for its own forces. AFP footage showed dozens of military vehicles and pick‑ups at the port, several burnt out and smouldering as workers hosed them down.
Political And Military Fallout
The STC's recent operations across the resource‑rich Hadramawt and Mahra provinces have injected fresh instability into a country already devastated by a decade‑long conflict. The advance has revived concerns about the potential reconstitution of an independent South Yemen, a state that existed from 1967 until reunification in 1990, and has complicated slow‑moving peace efforts with the Houthis.
In response to the crisis, the head of Yemen's presidential council announced the dissolution of a defence pact with the UAE and declared a 90‑day state of emergency. Riyadh, which has clashed with Abu Dhabi over influence in Yemen, said the UAE's actions were "highly dangerous" and warned that threats to Saudi national security were a "red line."
Statements And Positions
“The UAE condemns the claims made regarding the exertion of pressure or direction on any Yemeni party to carry out military operations,” an Emirati statement said, adding that the Mukalla shipment did not contain weapons and the vehicles were not intended for any Yemeni faction.
Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia indicated a willingness to pursue diplomacy. A source close to the Saudi military coalition told AFP: "Diplomacy is still an option to stop any further escalation."
Standpoints On The Ground
The STC has shown no sign of retreating from positions it captured. STC spokesman Anwar Al‑Tamimi said: “It is unreasonable for the landowner to be asked to leave his own land. The situation requires staying and reinforcing.” He added that any movement toward STC forces would be met with a response, and that Saudi Arabia had moved roughly 20,000 security personnel along its border with Hadramawt. Separately, a Yemeni military official said about 15,000 Saudi‑backed fighters were massed near the border but had not been ordered to advance.
Human Impact
Local residents in Mukalla described fear and damage after the port strike. Abdullah Bazuhair, who lives near the port, said windows were blown out and glass littered floors. "The children were terrified and the women frightened," he told AFP, calling the strikes "unacceptable to God."
Outlook
The UAE's announced withdrawal and the public split with Saudi Arabia mark a significant moment in the complex, multi‑layered conflict in Yemen. The developments raise the risk of further fragmentation in the south, complicate efforts to revive peace talks with the Houthis, and create the potential for wider regional tensions unless diplomatic channels stabilize the situation.
