On Tuesday morning, Saudi Arabia conducted "limited" airstrikes on Al-Mukalla, urging the UAE to withdraw its troops within a day. In response, Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of actions that posed "extremely dangerous" threats to the kingdom's security.
Initially, the UAE rejected these accusations and expressed bewilderment over the attacks, but later the country's Ministry of Defense announced the decision to voluntarily withdraw its counter-terrorism forces from Yemen, citing "recent events." In a video released by the coalition, it was claimed that the strikes targeted vehicles and weapons obtained through unauthorized supplies.
This incident marked a significant deterioration in relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. In a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was emphasized that any threat to national security is a "red line," and the kingdom is prepared to take necessary measures to eliminate it.
Amid rising tensions, the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) intensified its actions, seizing several key provinces, including the oil-rich Hadramaut, and renewed calls for the secession of Southern Yemen. The Saudi-backed government claims this sets a precedent for fragmenting military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis in the north of the country.
On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud regarding tensions in Yemen and regional security issues, the U.S. State Department reported.
The situation in Yemen remains extremely critical: over a decade of war has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, exacerbating economic decline and destroying social services.
