Saudi Arabia Issues Ultimatum to UAE Forces in Yemen

In a significant escalation, Saudi Arabia has firmly declared that its national security is a “red line,” demanding the withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemen within a strict 24-hour timeframe. This ultimatum follows an airstrike led by a Saudi coalition on the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla, signaling rising friction between these critical Gulf partners.

Rashad al-Alimi, the Saudi-supported leader of Yemen’s presidential council, publicized the order for the UAE's forces to retreat and announced the cancellation of the defense agreement with Abu Dhabi. In a broadcast address, he accused the UAE of fostering unrest and bolstering armed factions that undermine Yemen’s legitimate authority.

Al-Alimi alleged that the UAE has manipulated the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a prominent southern separatist group, urging it to heighten military confrontations against official government forces. Saudi Arabia has echoed this sentiment, pushing for UAE's compliance regarding the withdrawal. The UAE's foreign ministry has yet to comment on these accusations.

The current strain follows violent clashes in southern Yemen, where the STC initiated a military offensive in Abyan province. The fighting has brought the Saudi-supported government and the UAE-backed separatists perilously close to confrontation, worsening the situation in a nation already ravaged by over a decade of civil strife.

Saudi state media indicated that the Saudi-led coalition conducted a targeted airstrike on Mukalla port after two vessels arrived from the UAE’s Fujairah port without the necessary approvals. The coalition asserted that these ships deactivated their tracking systems and discharged munitions and military vehicles designated for the STC.

Officials confirmed that there were no casualties or damages to civilian areas from the strike. Two sources informed Reuters that the attack was focused on the dock where the cargo was offloaded. In response, Yemeni authorities established a temporary no-fly zone and imposed a maritime and land blockade on various ports and passages, with limited exemptions sanctioned by the coalition.

Historically, the UAE has been integral to the Saudi-led coalition combating the Iran-aligned Houthi movement controlling northern Yemen and its capital, Sanaa. Although the UAE has scaled back its military footprint since 2019, it has persisted in backing allied factions in the southern region, including the STC.

The STC governs extensive areas of southern Yemen, notably in Hadramout province, which borders Saudi Arabia and has deep historical and cultural ties to the kingdom. The region is particularly significant for Riyadh as many influential Saudis have ancestral roots there, making any developments in this area highly sensitive.

Saudi Arabia had previously cautioned the STC against broadening its military initiatives and requested the group’s withdrawal from certain areas of Hadramout, a plea that the separatists declined, exacerbating the already tense situation.

The Saudi-led coalition asserted it would persist in obstructing any foreign military supplies to Yemeni factions unless such actions are coordinated with the recognized government. As tensions escalate, experts warn that rifts among former allies could complicate ongoing attempts to stabilize Yemen and resolve its protracted conflict.