Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi met with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, in Riyadh today to discuss the latest developments in the Republic of Yemen and their implications for regional security and stability.
The meeting addressed recent events on the Yemeni stage amidst rising regional tensions, highlighting the resulting humanitarian and security challenges. They also discussed diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the escalation and preventing the conflict from expanding.
The two sides reviewed ways to support the political process intended to address the root causes of the Yemeni crisis. The goal is to reach a comprehensive and sustainable settlement that preserves Yemen’s sovereignty, security, and stability, meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people, and safeguards the national security interests of neighboring countries and the wider region.
The ministers emphasized the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the two countries, supporting regional and international efforts to bring peace to Yemen and enhance regional stability.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced that it had conducted airstrikes against weapons and combat vehicles. These assets had reportedly arrived at the Mukalla port (controlled by the STC) via two ships from the Port of Fujairah.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia declared that its national security is a “red line,” stating that “the UAE pushed the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to carry out military operations” on the Kingdom’s southern borders in the eastern Yemeni governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra.
However, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denying what it called “allegations” regarding its direction of any Yemeni party to conduct military operations affecting Saudi security, emphasizing its commitment to the Kingdom’s safety.
Subsequently, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced the conclusion of the mission for its “remaining counter-terrorism teams in Yemen,” noting that it had officially ended its military presence within the Coalition to Support Legitimacy back in 2019.
Since early December, STC forces have maintained control over Hadramawt and Al-Mahra—which together constitute approximately half of Yemen’s total landmass (around 555,000 square kilometers)—and have rejected local and regional calls to withdraw.
