The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will pull its remaining forces from Yemen, following a call from Saudi Arabia for their withdrawal within 24 hours, escalating tensions between the two Gulf powers.
Earlier, Saudi-led coalition forces struck the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh described as a UAE-linked weapons shipment. The airstrike marked the most significant escalation yet in the widening rift between the two oil-rich monarchies.
In Washington, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with the foreign ministers of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to address the tensions in Yemen and broader regional security concerns.
Several Gulf states, including Kuwait and Bahrain, pledged support for efforts to encourage dialogue and achieve a political solution.
Qatar also emphasized that the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries “constitutes an inseparable part” of its own national security.
Once aligned as the twin pillars of regional stability, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have seen their interests increasingly diverge across issues ranging from oil quotas to geopolitical influence.
The UAE Defence Ministry said it had voluntarily ended the mission of its counterterrorism units in Yemen—the last of its military presence following the conclusion of its broader operations in 2019.
According to a statement reported by the UAE state news agency WAM, the remaining UAE mission had been limited to “specialised personnel as part of counterterrorism efforts, in coordination with relevant international partners.” The ministry said recent developments prompted a “comprehensive assessment” of its ongoing role in Yemen.
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