UAE Announces Withdrawal from Yemen Amid Rising Tensions with Saudi Arabia
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the UAE has officially announced the withdrawal of its remaining forces from Yemen, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the Saudi-led coalition. The decision comes after Saudi airstrikes targeted alleged UAE-backed arms shipments in the strategic port of Mukalla, escalating long-simmering tensions between the two Gulf allies. Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, backed by Saudi Arabia, issued a 24-hour ultimatum for Emirati forces to leave Yemen while canceling its defense agreement with Abu Dhabi. Analysts question whether this withdrawal represents a genuine disengagement or merely a tactical retreat, as the UAE maintains influence through local proxies like the Southern Transitional Council. The move has created uncertainty about the future of separatist ambitions in southern Yemen, particularly in resource-rich regions like Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra.
