DUBAI: The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it has voluntarily concluded the mission of its counter-terrorism units deployed in Yemen.
According to the official news agency WAM, the statement from the UAE Ministry of Defence said the decision was made following a comprehensive review of recent developments. The statement mentioned that the UAE had withdrawn most of its military forces from Yemen in 2019, but some specialized counter-terrorism units remained deployed in the country.
Earlier, the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, announced the cancellation of the joint defence agreement with the UAE and ordered Yemeni forces to leave the country. Saudi Arabia had called on the UAE to immediately cease any military or financial support to any party in Yemen.
According to reports from Arab media, Rashad Al-Alimi stated that all UAE forces present in Yemen must leave the country within 24 hours. He also mentioned that a complete air, land and sea blockade would be imposed on all Yemeni ports and key land and sea passages for 72 hours.
A statement issued by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also demanded that the UAE withdraw its troops from Yemen within 24 hours, in line with the Yemeni government’s request, and immediately cease providing military or financial assistance to any party.
These orders from the Yemeni Presidential Council came at a time when the Saudi-led military coalition carried out limited airstrikes in Yemen, targeting the port of Mukalla. According to the Saudi coalition, the airstrikes were directed against the foreign military assistance being provided to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group in Yemen.
The UAE denied the allegations of supplying arms or providing assistance to any group. However, following these developments, the UAE announced the withdrawal of its remaining units from Yemen.
