Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council head, Rashad al-Alimi, issued a sweeping decision on Tuesday ordering the withdrawal of all Emirati forces and personnel from Yemeni territory within 24 hours, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions within the Arab coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
In a formal decree, al-Alimi announced the cancellation of the joint defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates, citing constitutional authority, the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, and the decision transferring power to the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022. The move was framed as necessary to safeguard national sovereignty, preserve Yemen’s territorial integrity, and confront what the government describes as the ongoing coup by Houthi militias since 2014.
Under the decision, all Emirati military units and affiliates are required to leave Yemen within a day. The decree also instructs Yemen’s Saudi-backed “Nation’s Shield Forces” to move immediately to take control of military camps and strategic facilities in the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahra.
The announcement came amid rapidly deteriorating security conditions in eastern Yemen. Earlier this month, forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for the secession of southern Yemen, carried out sudden military deployments and declared control over large parts of Hadramout and Al-Mahra. Despite regional and local calls for de-escalation, the STC has so far refused to withdraw.
Last Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had launched airstrikes against weapons and military vehicles that arrived aboard two ships at the port of Mukalla in Hadramout. The coalition stated that the strikes were conducted at the request of President al-Alimi, in response to what it described as violations by STC forces.
The United Arab Emirates, for its part, rejected accusations that it is backing instability in Yemen. On Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that it had voluntarily ended the remaining presence of its counterterrorism units in Yemen, saying the decision followed a comprehensive review of operational requirements and regional developments.
In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the UAE had officially ended its military presence in Yemen in 2019 after completing its assigned missions, with only limited counterterrorism teams remaining in coordination with international partners. It added that, given recent developments and concerns over the safety and effectiveness of those missions, Abu Dhabi decided to withdraw the remaining teams.
The UAE also strongly denied claims that it pressured or directed Yemeni factions to carry out military operations threatening Saudi Arabia’s southern border. Emirati officials emphasized their commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and rejected what they described as attempts to drag the UAE into internal Yemeni disputes.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation. In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry, Riyadh described certain recent actions as “extremely dangerous” and inconsistent with the principles upon which the coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen was founded. The kingdom warned that any threat to its national security constituted a red line and reaffirmed its full support for al-Alimi and his government.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia reiterated its view that the southern issue is legitimate and rooted in historical and social grievances, but stressed that it must be addressed through inclusive political dialogue as part of a comprehensive settlement involving all Yemeni parties, including the Southern Transitional Council.
Riyadh also called on the UAE to comply with Yemen’s request for the withdrawal of its forces within 24 hours and to halt any military or financial support to local actors inside the country. Saudi officials expressed hope that wisdom would prevail and that Gulf unity and good-neighborly relations would be preserved in the interest of Yemen and regional stability.
In Hadramout, the local authority announced its full support for al-Alimi’s decision, describing it as a step that reinforces national sovereignty and contributes to stability. In a statement, provincial officials said they were ready to coordinate with the Nation’s Shield Forces to ensure a smooth and secure handover of military facilities and prevent bloodshed. They also called on residents and security forces to rally behind the internationally recognized leadership.
The latest developments underscore deep fractures within the anti-Houthi camp, at a time when Yemen remains mired in a prolonged conflict that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. While the Saudi-led coalition was formed to restore Yemen’s recognized government and counter Houthi control, diverging priorities among its members and local allies have increasingly complicated the conflict.
As diplomatic efforts continue to focus on a broader political settlement with the Houthis, the confrontation in Yemen’s east raises new questions about the future of the coalition, the balance of power within government-held areas, and the prospects for maintaining unity in a country already fractured by years of war.
