Saudi Arabia Demands UAE Withdrawal from Yemen Following Coalition Airstrike

Tue Dec 30 2025 22:00:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Tensions escalate in Yemen as Saudi Arabia demands the UAE withdraw its forces within 24 hours after a coalition airstrike targets separatists. The UAE responds with denial and condemnation.

In a recent development, Saudi Arabia has supported a demand from Yemen's presidential council for the United Arab Emirates to withdraw its forces within 24 hours. This follows a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the port of Mukalla, targeting what was claimed to be a weapons shipment for UAE-backed separatists. The UAE has denied the allegations and condemned Saudi claims of any pressure exerted on Yemeni forces. The situation highlights ongoing conflicts within Yemen, particularly between the internationally recognized government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks independence for southern Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has backed a demand from Yemen's presidential council for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to withdraw within 24 hours, after a Saudi-led coalition bombed what it said was a weapons shipment for UAE-backed separatists at the port of Mukalla.

The Saudi foreign ministry accused the UAE of pressuring the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks independence for southern Yemen, to launch recent offensives in the eastern provinces of Hadramawt and al-Mahra.

The kingdom warned that it would take measures to confront what it deemed highly dangerous actions.

The UAE's foreign ministry denied that the shipment contained weapons and expressed deep regret at the Saudi statement, condemning the allegations and asserting it did not exert pressure on Yemeni military operations.

The STC leaders also stated that the ultimatum for the withdrawal of UAE forces had no legal basis and insisted on remaining a main partner in the battle against the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Earlier on Monday, the head of the eight-member presidential council announced the cancellation of a joint defence pact with the UAE and ordered its forces to leave, affirming Yemen's unity, sovereignty, and stability. A state of emergency was declared for 90 days to confront the Houthis and internal strife led by mutinous military elements.\

Alimi's announcement followed a Saudi-led coalition spokesman's confirmation of a limited air strike targeting weapons and military vehicles for STC forces in the southern port of Mukalla, asserting they constituted an imminent threat to peace and stability.

The UAE's foreign ministry expressed surprise at the airstrike, claiming that the coalition's statement was made without consultation among its members.

The conflict in Yemen has left more than 150,000 dead and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The ongoing tensions illustrate the complexities of internal conflicts involving both international and regional powers.