Yemen’s UAE-Backed Forces Vow to Stay in Hadhramaut Amid Saudi Pressure
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Anwar al-Tamimi, spokesperson for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen, stated that their forces are at the highest level of combat readiness and will respond decisively to any attacks. He emphasized that STC forces will not retreat from Hadhramaut and Al Mahra provinces, asserting, “No one will be forced out of their homes, and our positions in these regions will remain.”
The remarks come as Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned UAE actions in Yemen as “highly dangerous and outside the framework of the Arab coalition.” The ministry expressed regret over UAE pressure on the STC to conduct operations in Hadhramaut and Al Mahra, reaffirming support for Yemen’s security, stability, and the Presidential Leadership Council.
Saudi Arabia demanded the withdrawal of Emirati military forces from Yemen within 24 hours, calling for an end to military and financial support to internal factions. The statement stressed that dialogue and peaceful resolution remain the only solution to southern Yemen’s crisis.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, accused the UAE of supporting rebels and inciting internal strife, announcing the cancellation of a joint defense agreement with the UAE. He declared a 90-day state of emergency and a 72-hour closure of ports and crossings, while Yemeni forces moved to take control of military bases in Hadhramaut and Al Mahra.
Since the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention in Yemen began in 2015, competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE for influence and control over various regions has persisted. In southern Yemen, mercenaries and forces backed by both countries have repeatedly clashed, with strategic bases and areas remaining flashpoints for direct confrontation.
