Saudi Arabia Issues National Security Warning as UAE Forces Asked to Withdraw from Yemen

Reuters

Forces of Yemen's main separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, arrive in a mountainous area where they are launching a military operation in the southern province of Abyan, Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has issued a strong national security warning and supported a demand that United Arab Emirates (UAE) forces withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between two long-time Gulf allies.

The warning follows a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, which Riyadh said targeted weapons shipments arriving from the UAE port of Fujairah without proper authorisation. Saudi officials described the shipments as military support to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists, which have been advancing in southern Yemen and clashing with forces aligned with the internationally recognised Yemeni government. 

In its statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said any threat to the Kingdom’s national security is a “red line”, and urged the UAE to respond positively to a request from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council that all Emirati military forces leave Yemeni territory within 24 hours. Riyadh expressed disappointment over Abu Dhabi’s alleged pressure on STC forces to conduct operations near Saudi borders, describing such actions as inconsistent with the original goals of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. 

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, led by Rashad al-Alimi, has also cancelled its defence pact with the UAE and declared a 90-day state of emergency, calling on all Emirati troops to quit the country in response to the recent developments. 

The STC, which controls significant portions of southern Yemen including parts of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah provinces, rejected the withdrawal demand. The group has asserted its right to local control and continued its operations despite the Saudi-backed government’s objections. 

The escalation has unsettled regional markets and raised concerns about broader Gulf cooperation. Major Gulf stock indices retreated following the clash, reflecting investor anxiety over the deteriorating relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. 

The dispute represents a stark deterioration in Saudi-UAE relations, which have historically been close, particularly in their joint efforts against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. Analysts warn that the tensions could complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilise Yemen and pose challenges for regional security. 

Sources: Reuters, Saudi Gazette, and AA


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