Saudi Arabia backs Yemen, urges UAE to withdraw forces

Saudi Arabia has formally called on the United Arab Emirates to comply with Yemen's demand for the withdrawal of all Emirati forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours. In a sharply worded statement on Tuesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed deep disappointment with the UAE's actions and framed the situation as a direct threat to the kingdom's own security.

A 'Red Line' on National Security

The Saudi statement accused the UAE of "pressuring the Southern Transitional Council’s forces to conduct military operations on the southern borders of the Kingdom." This activity in Yemen's Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates was characterized as a "threat to the Kingdom’s national security and the security and stability" of Yemen. Riyadh emphasized that any such threat constitutes a "red line," and it "will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralize" it.

Saudi Arabia's Formal Call to the UAE

The kingdom explicitly backed the request made earlier in the day by Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council. "The Kingdom stresses the importance that the brotherly United Arab Emirates accept the Republic of Yemen’s request for all its forces to leave the Republic of Yemen within twenty four hours, and halt any military or financial support to any party within Yemen," the ministry's statement read. This represents a rare and stark public rift between the two Gulf powerhouses, who have been nominal allies in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015.

A Major Fracture in the Anti-Houthi Alliance

The Saudi intervention dramatically escalates a crisis that began with Yemen's termination of its defense pact with the UAE. It reveals a fundamental split within the coalition over the UAE's parallel support for the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which controls much of southern Yemen. This fracture jeopardizes the unified front against the Houthis and risks further destabilizing the war-torn country. The developments are of significant concern to other regional actors, including Türkiye, which has consistently advocated for Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity.