In a significant development highlighting deepening fissures within the Gulf coalition, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to pull its remaining military forces out of Yemen. This move comes directly after an airstrike by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition targeted the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Coalition Strike Sparks Diplomatic Crisis
The Saudi-led coalition stated that its air force conducted a "limited airstrike" on Mukalla targeting weapons and military vehicles it claimed were unloaded from two vessels. According to a military statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the ships had arrived from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE's eastern coast. The coalition alleged the shipment was intended to support forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a Yemeni separatist group.
Riyadh declared that the weapons constituted an "imminent threat" to peace and stability. In a sharp accusation, Saudi Arabia has charged the UAE with pressuring the STC to push towards the Saudi border, firmly stating that its national security is a "red line." The coalition also attacked a dock it said was used to provide foreign military support to the separatists.
UAE Responds with Withdrawal and Denials
The UAE, expressing shock over the bombing, denied the Saudi allegations. It claimed the shipment was for its own forces and did not contain weapons. Despite this, the Emirati defence ministry announced it was terminating the mission of its counterterrorism units in Yemen. It clarified that its remaining presence would be limited to "specialised personnel" focused on counterterrorism, working with international partners.
This withdrawal was further pressured by the head of Yemen's Saudi-backed presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, who gave Emirati forces a 24-hour deadline to leave. The UAE stated it seeks a solution "that prevents escalation, based on reliable facts and existing coordination."
Regional Repercussions and International Concern
The incident marks a serious escalation in the widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, key partners in the coalition that has been involved in Yemen's conflict for years. The fallout quickly drew international attention.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with the foreign ministers of both nations regarding the rising tensions in Yemen and broader Middle East security issues. Meanwhile, other Gulf countries called for dialogue. Kuwait and Bahrain backed efforts to intensify talks for a political solution. Qatar emphasized that its security is "deeply entwined" with that of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, calling it an "inseparable part" of its own security.
The UAE's decision to withdraw its forces underscores the fragile and shifting alliances in Yemen's complex war, potentially altering the strategic landscape of the conflict.
