Saudi Arabia Issues Ultimatum to UAE Forces in Yemen, Citing National Security ‘Red Line’

RIYADH/ADEN – In a dramatic escalation of long-simmering tensions between the Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday declared its national security a “red line” and gave United Arab Emirates forces 24 hours to leave Yemen. The ultimate, delivered via Yemen’s Saudi-backed presidential council, marks the most severe public rupture yet in the coalition that has waged war in Yemen since 2015.

The crisis erupted hours after a Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeted the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla. The coalition stated the strike was aimed at destroying “foreign military support”—later specified as weapons and combat vehicles—delivered to UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists by two unauthorized ships from the Emirati port of Fujairah.

Presidential Council Takes Hard Line

The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad al-Alimi, set the withdrawal deadline in a televised address. He also announced the cancellation of a defense pact with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi of “fuelling internal strife” and directly undermining the Yemeni state.

“Unfortunately, it has been definitively confirmed that the United Arab Emirates pressured and directed the STC to undermine and rebel against the authority of the state through military escalation,” Alimi stated.

Saudi Arabia publicly urged the UAE to comply. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported that the kingdom viewed the UAE’s alleged support for the STC’s recent offensive as a “violation of Saudi Arabia’s red lines.”

Coalition Fractures Over Southern Yemen

The UAE was a founding member of the Saudi-led coalition formed to fight the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. However, it began drawing down its troops in 2019, shifting to a strategy of backing local militias like the STC, which seeks an independent state in southern Yemen.

This month, STC forces launched a major offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops, bringing the two nominal allies closer to open conflict. The STC’s advances, particularly its claim of broad control in the strategic eastern province of Hadramout—which borders Saudi Arabia—appear to have triggered the decisive Saudi response.

The coalition said the precision strike on Mukalla’s dock caused no casualties. Two sources told Reuters it targeted the location where the cargo from the UAE-linked ships was unloaded.

In response to the escalation, Alimi imposed a 72-hour no-fly zone and blockade on all southern ports, exempting only coalition-authorized movements.

Regional Tensions Boil Over

Analysts suggest the confrontation in Yemen is a manifestation of deeper regional rivalries.

“Saudi Arabia doesn’t like that the UAE is emerging as a regional power and that it is visible all over the place throughout the Arab world,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political science professor at UAE University, speaking to Al Jazeera from Dubai.

He described the airstrike as “uncalled for” and the 24-hour ultimatum as impractical, predicting intense mediation behind the scenes.

Diplomatic Reactions Pour In

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, expressed “deep concern” and called for an immediate end to the escalation. He urged member states to “uphold the spirit of Arab solidarity” and support Yemen’s legitimacy.

The UAE Foreign Ministry, in a statement, rejected the allegations and sought to downplay the rift with Riyadh. It emphasized that the UAE “categorically rejects any attempt to implicate it” in actions threatening Saudi security and reaffirmed its “constant commitment to the security and stability” of the kingdom.

Human Impact and On-the-Ground Realities

In Mukalla, residents expressed shock and fear. Abdullah Bazuhair, whose home overlooks the port, showed Agence France-Presse damage from blast waves, with shattered windows and scattered glass.
“The children were terrified and the women frightened,” he said. “This is unacceptable to God.”

Broader Implications

The showdown leaves the tangled web of Yemen’s conflict more complex than ever. The Saudi-backed PLC government, already battling the Houthis in the north, now faces a direct challenge from its UAE-backed southern partner. The Houthis, who control Sanaa and much of the north, have watched the infighting among their opponents with satisfaction.

The coalition, in its statement, vowed: “We will continue to prevent any military support from any country to any Yemeni faction without coordination with the legitimate government.”

The coming days will test whether the GCC allies can bridge this profound divide or if Yemen is set for another violent reorganization of its front lines.

 

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