Saudi Arabia Draws Firm Line on Security as UAE Forces Asked to Leave Yemen

Post by : Saif Nasser

Saudi Arabia has issued its strongest warning yet to the United Arab Emirates, saying its national security is a “red line” and asking Emirati forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours. The sharp statement came after a Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on Yemen’s southern port city of Mukalla, highlighting rising tension between two key Gulf allies.

The Saudi-backed head of Yemen’s presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, announced the demand for UAE forces to withdraw and also cancelled a defence agreement with Abu Dhabi. In a televised speech, he accused the UAE of encouraging unrest and supporting armed groups that challenge the authority of the Yemeni state.

According to al-Alimi, the UAE pressured and guided the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Yemen’s main southern separatist group, to escalate military action against government forces. Saudi Arabia supported this view and urged the UAE to comply with the withdrawal request. The UAE’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the accusations.

The tension follows recent fighting in southern Yemen, where the STC launched a military operation in Abyan province. The clashes have brought Saudi-backed government troops and UAE-backed separatists close to direct conflict, a serious development in a country already torn by more than a decade of civil war.

Saudi state media reported that the Saudi-led coalition carried out a limited airstrike on Mukalla port after two ships arrived from the UAE port of Fujairah without proper authorization. The coalition said the ships turned off their tracking systems and unloaded weapons and combat vehicles intended for the STC.

Officials said the airstrike caused no casualties or damage to civilian areas. Two sources told Reuters the strike targeted the dock where the cargo was unloaded. Following the incident, Yemeni authorities imposed a temporary no-fly zone and a sea and land blockade on ports and crossings, with limited exemptions approved by the coalition.

The UAE was once a central part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which controls northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. Although the UAE reduced its military presence in 2019, it has continued to support allied forces in the south, including the STC.

The STC controls large parts of southern Yemen, including the strategic province of Hadramout, which borders Saudi Arabia and holds deep cultural and historical ties with the kingdom. Many prominent Saudis trace their roots to the region, making developments there especially sensitive for Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia had earlier warned the STC against expanding its military operations and asked it to withdraw from parts of Hadramout. The separatist group rejected the demand, further deepening the crisis.

The Saudi-led coalition said it would continue to block any foreign military support to Yemeni factions unless it is coordinated with the internationally recognized government. As tensions rise, analysts warn that disagreements between former allies could further complicate efforts to stabilize Yemen and end its long-running conflict.