UAE-backed forces withdraw from parts of eastern Yemen.
Sources close to the coalition in Hadhramaut informed Al-Mayadeen that the Southern Transitional Council forces, affiliated with the UAE, have withdrawn from several areas in the cities of Ghail bin Yumin and Ghail bin Wazir in eastern Yemen.
This withdrawal occurred following attacks by the Saudi coalition, which supports the so-called Yemeni Presidential Council. On Tuesday morning, coalition forces bombed positions in the port of Mukalla, located in Hadhramaut province.
The coalition reported that two ships carrying weapons from the UAE port of Fujairah entered the port of Mukalla without authorization on Saturday and Sunday. The coalition’s statement claimed that these ships disabled their tracking systems and unloaded a large shipment of weapons and military vehicles to bolster the Southern Transitional Council and escalate the conflict.
In response, the coalition supporting the Yemeni Presidential Council announced that it would continue efforts to reduce tensions and uphold the ceasefire in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. They also emphasized that any military support to any Yemeni party would require coordination with the Yemeni Presidential Council and the coalition.
The coalition stated that military operations in Mukalla would proceed in accordance with international humanitarian law, with assurances that no collateral damage would occur.
Following these events, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement urging the UAE to promptly respond to a request from Rashad Al-Alimi, the head of the Yemeni Presidential Council, to withdraw all its forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours and cease any military and financial support to internal Yemeni factions.
The statement expressed Saudi Arabia’s hope that wisdom would prevail, maintaining the principles of brotherhood, good neighborliness, and strong relations among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It called for consideration of Yemen’s interests and urged the UAE to take necessary steps to uphold the bilateral relations that Saudi Arabia wishes to strengthen. The statement also called for cooperation to enhance peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.
The UAE reacted with anger to the Saudi statement, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing regret over the contents, rejecting any involvement in Yemen’s internal conflicts, and affirming its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
In its statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the Saudi allegations, asserting that they contained fundamental errors and firmly opposing any insinuation of its involvement in tensions between Yemeni parties. The UAE criticized these claims as unacceptable while reiterating its commitment to Saudi security and respect for Riyadh’s sovereignty and national security.
Additionally, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that the mission of its remaining teams and specialized units in Yemen had concluded voluntarily and in coordination with relevant partners. Since 2015, the UAE has participated in the Arab coalition to support the resigned Yemeni government, suffering significant casualties and sacrifices during this time.
The Ministry of Defense further stated that the UAE’s military presence in Yemen ended in 2019 after fulfilling its operational commitments under official agreements. Following that, only a few specialized units remained in the country for limited missions in coordination with international partners.
In light of recent developments and their potential implications for safety and efficiency in so-called “counter-terrorism missions,” the UAE Ministry of Defense decided to completely terminate the remaining presence of these units. This decision was made to ensure the security of forces and in coordination with relevant partners. The Ministry emphasized that this action was based on a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and aligned with the UAE’s commitments and role in supporting regional security and stability.