The Yemeni leadership has demanded that the United Arab Emirates withdraw its troops from the country within 24 hours, accusing Abu Dhabi of acting against the Yemeni people and supporting forces that are escalating the conflict.
State of emergency and border closures
The chairman of Yemen’s ruling presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, said in a televised address on Tuesday that the UAE must withdraw its military units from Yemeni territory within 24 hours.
According to al-Alimi, the country’s authorities are imposing a 90-day state of emergency throughout Yemen. In addition, all border crossings, including sea and air, will be closed for 72 hours, with the exception of cargo transported by the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia. At the same time, he thanked the coalition for supporting and strengthening the position of the legitimate government.
The head of the Presidential Council announced the termination of the defence agreement with the UAE, stressing that the current actions of the Emirates “are directed against the Yemeni people.” He also accused the Southern Transitional Council (STC) of refusing to engage in dialogue to resolve differences.
Troop deployment to southern Yemen
Al-Alimi recalled that coalition forces had previously attacked two ships carrying weapons intended for the STC, noting that the shipment of weapons from the UAE was “a step towards escalation.” In this regard, Yemeni troops will be sent to the south of the country — to the provinces of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra — to regain control of local military camps previously occupied by STC forces.
In December, the Houthis established control over Hadramaut and Al Mahrah, which had previously been under the control of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. Saudi Arabia later called on the Houthis to withdraw their forces from these regions.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on the port city of Al-Mukalla. The targets were two ships that had arrived from the emirate of Fujairah and delivered a “large consignment of weapons and military equipment” to the Houthi forces.
The armed conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi movement seized the capital Sana’a and much of the north of the country. The Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which intervened in the conflict in 2015, supports the government forces. The UAE, which is part of the coalition, also provides support and funding to groups associated with the STC.
