UAE ends remaining military mission in Yemen

CAIRO: The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced it has voluntarily ended the mission of its counterterrorism units in Yemen — its last remaining deployment in the country after winding down its broader military presence in 2019.

According to a statement issued by the UAE Defence Ministry and carried by state news agency WAM, the decision followed a “comprehensive assessment” in light of recent developments.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia after a Saudi-led coalition conducted an airstrike on the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla, saying it targeted a UAE-linked weapons shipment.

Earlier, Abu Dhabi expressed disappointment over Riyadh’s support for calls demanding the withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen within 24 hours, terming the airstrike “surprising” and insisting the targeted shipment did not contain weapons and was meant for Emirati forces.

The strike marked the most serious escalation yet between the two Gulf powers, whose relations have increasingly been strained over oil policy and regional influence despite years of close security coordination.

Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of backing Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) in actions that allegedly fuel internal tensions and threaten the kingdom’s borders. Yemeni presidential council head Rashad al-Alimi cancelled a defence pact with the UAE and accused it of stoking unrest through its support for separatist forces.

The UAE maintains that its presence in Yemen followed a request from the internationally recognised government and operated within the Saudi-led coalition framework. It called for responsible handling of the latest developments and urged de-escalation.

The Saudi-led coalition said the Mukalla strike caused no casualties. Yemeni state television aired footage showing smoke rising from the port area and charred vehicles.

Tensions have intensified in recent weeks as STC-aligned forces launched an offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni troops, seizing territory across southern Yemen including parts of Hadramout, despite Saudi warnings.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain key players in OPEC+, and analysts say the widening rift could complicate future oil production decisions.

The UAE had initially joined the Saudi-led coalition in 2015 against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis before drawing down most forces in 2019 while retaining influence through allied groups in the south.