Saudi Arabia has ordered the United Arab Emirates to fully withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours, deeming its national security a red line after a limited military strike on equipment linked to unauthorised UAE weapons shipments. The UAE responded by voluntarily ending its remaining military presence, while Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council head cancelled a joint defence agreement with Abu Dhabi.
In an unprecedented diplomatic escalation, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, demanding the immediate withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen. This followed a limited military operation by coalition aircraft that destroyed equipment unloaded at the port of Al-Mukalla, which Riyadh described as unauthorised weapons and combat vehicles shipments linked to the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki accused two Emirati ships of arriving in Al-Mukalla on December 27-28, disabling tracking systems to offload "large quantities of weapons and combat vehicles" for the STC, violating UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The Saudi ministry stated: "The Kingdom stresses that any threat to its national security is a red line, and the Kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralise any such threat."
The UAE Foreign Ministry categorically rejected the allegations, insisting the shipment contained no weapons and the vehicles were for its own forces, with prior coordination with Riyadh. The UAE Defence Ministry announced the voluntary termination of its remaining counterterrorism personnel in Yemen, noting its main military presence ended in 2019.
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council head, Rashad al-Alimi, responded by cancelling the joint defence agreement with the UAE and ordering its forces to leave within one day, declaring a 90-day nationwide state of emergency and a 72-hour ban on all ports except those authorised by the Saudi-led coalition. Al-Alimi said: "The role of the UAE has become directed against the people of Yemen." Four PLC members rejected his "unilateral" decisions in a joint statement, warning that demonising the UAE would benefit Yemen's enemies.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its full support for Al-Alimi's government, acknowledging the Southern cause as just but insisting it be resolved through dialogue rather than military actions near its borders. The UAE urged coordination and wisdom against shared threats like Al Qaeda and the Houthis.
