UAE withdraws forces from Yemen after tensions with Saudi Arabia

The UAE said it has withdrawn all its troops from Yemen, citing the conclusion of remaining counterterrorism missions, as tensions with Saudi-backed forces and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council have escalated.

The United Arab Emirates announced early Saturday that it has withdrawn all its troops from Yemen. The UAE Defence Ministry described the move as the conclusion of previously announced counterterrorism missions and did not provide numbers or equipment details. The withdrawal comes as rivalries among Gulf partners have intensified on the ground in southern Yemen. The Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the UAE, announced a constitution for a separate southern entity amid recent clashes. Key developments: - The UAE said it pulled all its military forces out of Yemen, according to a Defence Ministry statement; specific troop and equipment details were not provided. - The Southern Transitional Council announced a constitution for a proposed independent south and presented the move as a declaration of independence; it was not immediately clear whether this can be implemented. - Saudi forces have recently struck positions linked to the STC, and members of the internationally recognized Yemeni government left Aden and relocated to Riyadh, the article reports. - The article reports that the Saudi–UAE alignment within the broader coalition against northern Houthi forces appears to be unravelling. Summary: The reported UAE withdrawal and the STC's constitutional announcement follow a period of clashes and separate interventions by Saudi-backed forces, and these events have been described as straining the coalition that had opposed northern Houthi control. Undetermined at this time.