Dubai– The United Arab Emirates has decided to pull its remaining forces out of Yemen following a Saudi airstrike on the port city of Mukalla and Riyadh’s strong condemnation of Emirati activities in the country.
Saudi forces carried out the bombing on Tuesday, targeting what they described as a weapons shipment delivered from the UAE to separatist groups backed by Abu Dhabi. Riyadh labeled the Emirati actions as “extremely dangerous” and issued a stern warning against any threats to its security.
The strike came amid growing friction over advances by the UAE-supported Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist organization seeking greater autonomy in southern Yemen. The council and its supporters released a statement defending the UAE’s role, while other factions called for an immediate Emirati exit within 24 hours.
In response, the UAE urged restraint and rejected Saudi claims about the shipment. However, it soon announced the withdrawal of its troops, emphasizing the decision was voluntary. It remains uncertain if the STC will relinquish control over territories it has recently captured.
This incident risks igniting fresh conflict in Yemen’s long-running civil war, where Saudi Arabia and the UAE, once close allies against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, now support rival factions. The two neighboring Gulf states have increasingly clashed over economic matters and influence in the Red Sea region.
Tuesday’s events mark the most severe direct confrontation between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in recent decades. They follow earlier Saudi airstrikes last Friday, which experts viewed as a signal to the separatists to stop their territorial expansion.
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