ThUAE Withdrawal and the Saudi-STC Confrontation | The Yemen Pivot
The United Arab Emirates’ defence ministry on Tuesday announced that it has ended the mission of its counter terrorism units in Yemen voluntarily, state news agency WAM reported. It said the decision came after a comprehensive assessment following recent developments. The defence ministry also shared its statement in Arabic on X. They said that the decision was made after considering recent developments and potential risks to the safety and effectiveness of its counter terrorism missions. The ministry said that its presence in the country “was limited to specialised personnel as part of counter terrorism efforts, in coordination with relevant international partners”. | The Yemen Pivot
The Port of Mukalla: A Catalyst for Crisis
The breaking point arrived following a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the strategically vital southern port of Mukalla. Saudi authorities described the strike as a move to intercept “foreign military support” intended for the STC.
The political fallout was immediate:
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Expulsion Demand:
- The head of Yemen’s presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, explicitly demanded that UAE forces leave the country within 24 hours.
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Pact Cancellation:
- Alimi cancelled a long-standing defence pact with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi of directing the STC to “undermine and rebel against the authority of the state.“
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UAE Disappointment:
- The UAE foreign ministry expressed “surprise” and disappointment, insisting that the shipments targeted in the airstrike contained no weapons.
A “Specialised” Mission Concluded
The UAE was a member of the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthi movement in Yemen from 2015. In 2019 it started a draw down of its troops in the country but remained committed to the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) later decided to seek self-rule in the south and this month advanced in a sudden offensive against Saudi-supported Yemeni government troops.
The STC Advance and Saudi Red Lines
The advance broke years of stalemate, with the STC claiming broad control of the south. Saudi Arabia had warned the STC against military moves in the eastern border province of Hadramout and sought the withdrawal of its forces. The STC dismissed the Saudi call. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with his Saudi counterpart. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, about the ongoing tensions in Yemen and regional security, said the State Department.
No casualties in strike
The coalition said the Mukalla port strike caused no casualties or collateral damage, according to Saudi state media. There were two sources told Reuters that the strike targeted the dock where the cargo of the two ships was unloaded. Footage on Yemen’s state TV showed what it said was black smoke rising from the port in the early morning after the strike, with burned vehicles at the port.
Regional Implications: A Widening Rupture
UAE-backed forces control large swathes of land in the south including the strategically key province of Hadramout. Yemeni presidential council head Alimi imposed a no-fly zone, and a sea. The also did ground blockade on all ports and crossings for 72 hours, except for exemptions authorised by the coalition. Hadramout borders Saudi Arabia and has cultural and historical ties with it. Many prominent Saudis trace their origins to the area. Since 2022 the STC has been part of an alliance that controls southern areas outside Houthi control, under a Saudi-backed power-sharing initiative.
Conclusion: The Failure of Shared Governance
The Houthis control the northern region, including Sanaa, the capital. “We will continue to prevent any military support from any country to any Yemeni faction without coordination with the legitimate government,” the coalition added. Earlier, the head of Yemen’s presidential council asked the UAE forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours. Yemen’s presidential council head, Rashad al-Alimi, also cancelled a defence pact with the UAE, the Yemeni state news agency said. And also complained of the UAE’s support for the STC. “Unfortunately, it has been definitively confirmed that the UAE pressured and directed the STC to undermine and rebel against the authority of the state through military escalation,” he added. | The Yemen Pivot
In a statement, the UAE’s foreign ministry said that They it is disappointment with Saudi Arabia’s statement regarding Yemen and surprised by the airstrike. The ministry said that the shipment, struck in the airstrike, did not contain any weapons.
