The United Arab Emirates said it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies.
The announcement came hours after a Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeted the southern port of Mukalla, which Riyadh said was linked to a UAE-associated shipment.
The move reflects a deepening rift between the two Gulf states, once central partners in the Yemen war, whose strategic priorities have increasingly diverged.
UAE officials described the withdrawal as voluntary and framed it as a response to recent developments that affected the safety and effectiveness of their mission.
The UAE defense ministry said it had ended the mission of its remaining counterterrorism units, which it described as the last Emirati forces in Yemen since a broader military drawdown in 2019.
The ministry said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment and was coordinated with relevant international partners.
According to the statement, the remaining personnel were specialized teams operating as part of counterterrorism efforts.
The announcement followed a 24-hour deadline issued by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council for Emirati forces to leave the country.
Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi also canceled a joint defense agreement with the UAE and declared emergency measures, including temporary air, land, and sea restrictions.
Saudi Arabia backed the withdrawal demand and accused the UAE of supporting southern separatist forces operating near the kingdom’s borders.
The Saudi-led coalition said its airstrike targeted a dock in Mukalla used to support UAE-backed southern forces, an allegation denied by Abu Dhabi.
The UAE said it was surprised by the strike and stated that the shipment did not contain weapons and was intended for Emirati personnel.
Yemeni officials accused the UAE of fueling internal conflict through its backing of the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks self-rule in the south.
The STC rejected those accusations and said the UAE remained a key partner in the fight against the Houthis.
Footage broadcast by Yemeni media showed smoke and damaged vehicles at the port, though Saudi officials said the strike caused no casualties.
Financial markets across the Gulf declined amid concerns that the dispute could affect broader regional coordination, including within oil-producing alliances.