The United Arab Emirates announced the withdrawal of its remaining counterterrorism forces from Yemen on Tuesday, following escalating tensions with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-led coalition forces conducted an airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh described as a shipment of weapons and vehicles from the UAE intended for separatist groups.
The UAE denied the shipment contained weapons, stating the vehicles were for its own forces, and expressed surprise at the strike.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, led by Rashad al-Alimi, issued a 24-hour ultimatum for UAE forces to leave and canceled a defense pact with Abu Dhabi.
Saudi Arabia supported the ultimatum, accusing the UAE of actions threatening its national security through support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The STC, backed by the UAE, recently seized control of several southern provinces, including oil-rich Hadramout, prompting Saudi concerns over border security. The UAE Defense Ministry stated the withdrawal was voluntary, citing recent developments impacting the safety and effectiveness of its missions.
This marks the end of UAE’s limited military presence, which had persisted after a major drawdown in 2019. The two Gulf nations, once close allies in the coalition against Yemen’s Houthis, have seen diverging interests in the country.
Riyadh continues to back the internationally recognized government, while Abu Dhabi has supported southern separatists seeking greater autonomy or independence. The airstrike caused no reported casualties but destroyed vehicles at the port.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the tensions with both Saudi and UAE foreign ministers. Analysts view the incident as highlighting deepening rifts between the Gulf powers over regional influence.
The withdrawal may ease immediate tensions, though UAE influence through proxies like the STC remains significant.
Saudi Arabia has called for the UAE to cease all military and financial support to the separatists. The STC has rejected calls to withdraw from seized territories, vowing to maintain control.
This development comes amid Yemen’s ongoing civil war, with Houthis controlling much of the north. Regional stability hangs on whether the Gulf allies can resolve their differences diplomatically. The episode underscores shifting alliances in the Middle East as nations pursue independent strategies.
