Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The UAE Ministry of Defense announced that the country’s armed forces ended their military presence in the Republic of Yemen in 2019 after completing the missions assigned within the officially agreed frameworks. It said that any remaining presence was limited to specialized teams as part of counterterrorism efforts and conducted in coordination with relevant international partners.
The ministry confirmed that the withdrawal of the remaining counterterrorism teams from Yemen was carried out at the UAE’s own discretion and in a manner that ensured the safety of its personnel. It noted that the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of current requirements and aligns with the UAE’s commitments and its role in supporting security and stability in the region.
The Ministry of Defense stressed that the previous presence was limited and dedicated solely to counterterrorism purposes, and that any withdrawal or adjustment to that presence was coordinated with international partners to ensure it did not negatively affect joint security efforts in the region.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces issued a decision canceling the Joint Defense Agreement with the United Arab Emirates and obligating Emirati forces to leave Yemeni territory within 24 hours.
The decision, issued pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, the Gulf Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, and the decision to transfer power and establish the Presidential Leadership Council—and under the constitutional powers vested in the Council’s Chairman—stated that the step was taken to protect citizens’ security and to affirm Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity, as well as to confront the ongoing coup by the Houthi terrorist militia since 2014.
The decision stipulated the following: the cancellation of the Joint Defense Agreement with the United Arab Emirates; the requirement that all Emirati forces and personnel withdraw from all Yemeni territory within 24 hours; and the directive for the “National Shield” forces to move in and take control of all military camps in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra.
This decision came hours after the leadership of the Coalition’s Joint Forces in Yemen announced that it had carried out a limited airstrike targeting external military support originating from the UAE at Mukalla Port in eastern Yemen.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the Coalition as saying that two vessels were detected arriving from the UAE’s Fujairah Port to Mukalla Port on Saturday and Sunday without official permits. The Coalition added that the vessels had disabled their tracking systems and unloaded weapons shipments to support STC, a move it said contributes to fueling the conflict.
