In a striking turn of events, Saudi Arabia has lent its support to a call made by Yemen's presidential council, demanding that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) withdraw its forces from Yemen within a tight timeframe of 24 hours. This ultimatum comes on the heels of a controversial airstrike conducted by a Saudi-led coalition, targeting what they claimed was a shipment of weapons intended for UAE-backed separatists at the strategic port of Mukalla.
The Saudi foreign ministry has leveled accusations against the UAE, alleging that it has been exerting pressure on the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a group that advocates for the independence of southern Yemen. This pressure, according to Saudi officials, has led to recent military offensives in the eastern provinces of Hadramawt and al-Mahra, actions they describe as "highly dangerous." In light of these developments, Saudi Arabia has signaled that it will take measures to address what it perceives as a serious threat to regional stability.
On the other hand, the UAE's foreign ministry has firmly rejected the claims surrounding the alleged shipment of weapons. They expressed "deep regret" over Saudi Arabia's statement and vehemently condemned any suggestion that they had pressured or directed any Yemeni factions to engage in military operations that could jeopardize the security of Saudi Arabia or threaten its borders.
The leadership of the STC responded to the Saudi ultimatum by asserting that there is no legal basis for the demand regarding UAE troop withdrawal. They emphasized their commitment to remaining a crucial ally in the fight against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which currently exerts control over significant portions of northwestern Yemen.
Earlier on Monday, Rashad al-Alimi, the chairman of the eight-member presidential council—which includes representatives from the STC—declared the cancellation of a joint defense pact with the UAE. He called for UAE forces to exit the region, citing the safeguarding of citizen security and reiterating a commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity.
Alimi also announced a state of emergency lasting 90 days, a measure he deemed necessary to tackle the Houthi threat and what he characterized as "internal strife instigated by rogue military factions taking orders from the UAE."
This announcement followed a statement from the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, which comprises the UAE among its members. The spokesperson confirmed a "limited" airstrike on military assets belonging to the STC in Mukalla, claiming that these assets had arrived via two ships from the UAE. Maj-Gen Turki al-Maliki described these shipments as an "imminent threat" that escalates tensions and undermines peace and stability in the region.
Witnesses at the port reported receiving an evacuation warning at 04:00 local time, with the airstrike occurring about 15 minutes later, resulting in damage to military vehicles and infrastructure but, fortunately, no casualties.
In response to the airstrike, the UAE expressed surprise, indicating that the coalition had issued statements without prior consultation with its member states. They insisted that the shipment in question did not contain any weapons and that the vehicles unloaded were solely intended for Emirati forces operating within Yemen, rather than for any Yemeni faction.
Just days earlier, the Saudi-led coalition had urged STC forces to withdraw from Hadramawt and al-Mahra peacefully, following reports of Saudi airstrikes on the separatists' positions in the Wadi Nahab area.
As tensions rise, the STC has intensified its military operations in these provinces, claiming that such actions are essential to restore stability in the south and combat threats posed by both Houthi insurgents and extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, initiated when the Houthis ousted the internationally recognized government from the capital, Sanaa. The situation escalated dramatically in 2015 when a coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily, aiming to reinstate the government.
The ongoing conflict has tragically resulted in over 150,000 deaths and has precipitated one of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide. Initially, the STC and various separatist factions, which seek the independence of southern Yemen—a region that functioned as a separate nation prior to its unification with the north in 1990—formed a fragile alliance with the government to prevent the Houthis from capturing the southern city of Aden. However, in recent years, the STC and its allies have turned against the government, seizing control of Aden and much of southern Yemen.
