The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said it has voluntarily stopped its counterterrorism units from operating in Yemen, its final military presence in the country after reducing its overall military involvement in 2019. A statement from the UAE Defence Ministry, shared by the state news agency WAM, explained that the decision was based on a "comprehensive assessment" considering recent events.
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| PHOTO: UAE |
This announcement happens as tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia rise after a Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on the southern Yemeni city of Mukalla, claiming it targeted a weapons shipment linked to the UAE.
Earlier, Abu Dhabi expressed disappointment with Saudi Arabia’s backing of demands for the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours.
They called the airstrike "surprising" and stated the shipment was not carrying weapons but was meant for Emirati forces.
This strike represents the most serious conflict between the two Gulf nations, whose relationship has grown more strained over oil policies and regional influence, even though they have worked closely on security matters for years.
Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of supporting Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) in actions that are said to worsen internal conflicts and threaten the kingdom’s borders.
Yemen's presidential council head, Rashad al-Alimi, canceled a defense agreement with the UAE and accused it of causing unrest by backing separatist groups.
The UAE claims its presence in Yemen was at the request of the internationally recognized government and operated within the framework of the Saudi-led coalition.
It urged the responsible management of recent events and called for the situation to de-escalate.
The Saudi-led coalition said the strike in Mukalla did not result in any casualties.
Yemeni state television showed footage of smoke rising from the port area and burnt vehicles.
Tensions have increased recently as STC-aligned forces launched an attack on Saudi-backed Yemeni troops, capturing territory in southern Yemen, including parts of Hadramout, despite warnings from Saudi Arabia.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are key members of OPEC+, and analysts suggest the growing rift could make future oil production decisions more complicated.
The UAE first joined the Saudi-led coalition in 2015 to fight Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis but had mostly pulled back its forces by 2019 while still maintaining influence through allied groups in the south.
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