The United Arab Emirates announced it will pull its remaining military forces out of Yemen, escalating a rapidly unfolding crisis with Saudi Arabia and marking the most serious rupture yet between two Gulf allies that were once central pillars of regional security.
The decision was confirmed Tuesday, just hours after Saudi Arabia backed a demand for UAE forces to leave Yemen within twenty four hours and coalition aircraft carried out strikes in the southern port city of Mukalla.
Airstrike in Mukalla deepens Gulf tensions
The crisis intensified after Saudi led coalition forces launched airstrikes on Mukalla, a key port in southern Yemen. Riyadh said the strikes targeted a weapons shipment allegedly linked to UAE backed southern separatists.
Smoke was seen rising over the port following the attack, which officials described as the most significant military escalation so far between the two Gulf powers. The incident marked a sharp turn in what had previously been a political and diplomatic dispute.
Analysts say the strike signaled Saudi Arabia’s willingness to apply military pressure as differences over Yemen spill into open confrontation.
Abu Dhabi confirms end of remaining mission
The United Arab Emirates defence ministry said it had decided to voluntarily end the mission of its remaining counterterrorism units in Yemen. These were the last UAE forces still deployed after Abu Dhabi formally concluded its broader military presence in the country in 2019.
According to the ministry, the remaining personnel had been operating in a limited role focused on counterterrorism, in coordination with international partners. Recent developments, it said, prompted a comprehensive reassessment of that mission.
The announcement effectively ends the UAE’s direct military footprint in Yemen.
Saudi backing for withdrawal request
Saudi Arabia had earlier supported calls for UAE forces to leave Yemen swiftly, a move that underscored how far relations between the two allies have deteriorated. Once closely aligned in the Saudi led coalition against the Houthis, the two countries have increasingly diverged on strategy, influence, and local partnerships.
Riyadh has accused Abu Dhabi of backing southern separatist groups in ways that undermine coalition unity. The UAE has repeatedly denied those claims, saying its actions were aimed at stability and counterterrorism.
Washington steps in as tensions rise
In Washington, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke separately with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to discuss the Yemen crisis and broader regional security concerns.
US officials have expressed concern that open confrontation between the Gulf heavyweights could further destabilize the Middle East at a time of heightened regional volatility.
Regional reactions call for dialogue
Several Gulf states moved quickly to urge restraint. Kuwait and Bahrain said they would support any initiative aimed at restoring dialogue and reaching a political solution between the two sides.
Qatar also weighed in, stressing that the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states is inseparable from its own, a signal of concern that the rift could weaken collective Gulf security.
From partners to rivals
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have long been described as twin pillars of Gulf security. However, in recent years their interests have increasingly diverged, from disagreements over oil production policy to competition for regional influence.
Yemen has now become the most visible and volatile arena for those differences, with the Mukalla strike and UAE withdrawal highlighting how far coordination has frayed.
What the withdrawal means for Yemen
The UAE exit adds new uncertainty to Yemen’s already fragile security landscape. While Abu Dhabi says its move is aimed at preventing further escalation, observers warn that shifting alliances could fuel instability in the south.
Much will now depend on whether diplomatic efforts can contain the fallout and prevent the crisis from triggering wider confrontation in the region.
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