On Tuesday (30th), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it would withdraw all remaining military personnel from Yemen. This decision came after the Yemeni government requested the UAE forces to leave within 24 hours, further escalating tensions between the two major Gulf oil-producing countries.
The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that it had “voluntarily” ended its counter-terrorism mission in Yemen. These forces were the only presence remaining in the country since the UAE ended its major military operations in 2019, operating only to carry out counter-terrorism missions in coordination with international partners. Recent developments prompted the UAE to reassess and decide to withdraw.
Earlier in the day, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla, claiming to have targeted a shipment of goods related to the UAE and suspected of being weapons destined for southern separatist forces. The coalition stated that the goods originated from the UAE’s Fujairah port and were intended to be transported to various locations in Hadramout province.
The UAE strongly denied the accusations, stating that the bombed vessels did not carry weapons but were transporting vehicles and supplies for use by UAE forces themselves. They expressed regret at the “baseless allegations” made by Saudi Arabia.
At the core of this crisis is the Southern Transitional Council (STC) supported by the UAE, which launched military operations in southern Yemen this month, aiming to control Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces. Saudi Arabia stated that these actions directly threatened its border security, crossing a “red line” for national security.
President Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad al-Alimi declared that the UAE’s support for STC was undermining the central government’s authority. He ordered the UAE forces to leave within 24 hours and imposed a 72-hour sea, air, and land blockade along with a no-fly zone.
Established in April 2022 under Saudi mediation, the council is considered the highest authority within Yemen’s current political framework. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government also expressed a desire for the UAE to completely cease military and financial support to STC.
On the other hand, STC Chairman Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who also serves as the vice chairman of the President Leadership Council, along with three other members, released a joint statement affirming the UAE’s vital role in combating Houthi militants. They rejected Al-Alimi’s orders, claiming it lacked a consensus foundation.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE were seen as the “twin pillars” in the Yemen conflict since their joint intervention in 2015 to combat Iran-backed Houthi rebels. However, divergences on political arrangements in southern Yemen, support for local militias, and distribution of regional influence have widened in recent years.
In Washington, the U.S. State Department indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio conversed separately with the Saudi and UAE foreign ministers to discuss the tense situation in Yemen and broader Middle East security issues.
Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain also urged all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue, emphasizing the interconnected and inseparable security of Gulf countries.
As significant members of OPEC and OPEC+, the deteriorating relationships between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have drawn significant attention in the energy market. Gulf stock indexes witnessed a decline on the 30th.
OPEC+ member countries are set to hold an online meeting this week to continue their policy of maintaining production levels unchanged in the first quarter of next year. However, several representatives privately admitted that the Saudi-UAE tensions might add uncertainties to future policy coordination.
(This article is based on Reuters’ report)