{"id":479930,"date":"2025-12-30T11:39:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/479930\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:39:07","slug":"saudi-arabia-issues-national-security-warning-as-uae-forces-asked-to-leave-yemen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/479930\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia issues national security warning as UAE forces asked to leave Yemen"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Saudi-backed head of Yemen&#8217;s presidential council asks UAE to leave<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Saudi-led coalition pitted against UAE-backed southern separatists<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">No casualties from Mukalla port strike<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Coalition says two ships originated in UAE&#8217;s Fujairah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Dec 30 (Reuters) &#8211; Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday its national security was a red line and backed a call for UAE forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours, shortly after a Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla.<\/p>\n<p>The warning represented Riyadh&#8217;s strongest language against Abu Dhabi yet, as the coalition struck what it described as foreign military support to UAE-backed southern separatists, and the head of Yemen&#8217;s Saudi-backed presidential council set the deadline for Emirati forces to leave.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/saudi-led-coalition-yemen-calls-civilians-mukalla-port-evacuate-saudi-state-news-2025-12-30\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fmiddle-east%2Fsaudi-led-coalition-yemen-calls-civilians-mukalla-port-evacuate-saudi-state-news-2025-12-30%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia urged the Emiratis to comply with the demand.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are both major players in the OPEC oil exporters&#8217; group, and any disagreements between the two could hamper consensus on oil output decisions.<\/p>\n<p>The group is meeting virtually on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Yemen&#8217;s presidential council head, Rashad al-Alimi, also cancelled a defence pact with the UAE, the Yemeni state news agency said, and accused the UAE in a televised speech of fuelling internal strife in Yemen with its support to the <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/how-yemens-southern-power-shift-heightens-risk-turbulent-region-2025-12-09\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Southern Transitional Council<\/a> (STC).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately, it has been definitively confirmed that the United Arab Emirates pressured and directed the STC to undermine and rebel against the authority of the state through military escalation,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>The UAE&#8217;s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Major stock indexes in the Gulf <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/major-gulf-markets-retreat-saudi-uae-clash-over-yemen-2025-12-30\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">were trading down<\/a> on Tuesday after the flare-up in tensions.OFFENSIVE BROUGHT ALLIES CLOSER TO CONFRONTATION<\/p>\n<p>The UAE was a member of the Saudi-led coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen from 2015. In 2019 it started a drawdown of its troops in the country but remained committed to the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government.<\/p>\n<p>The STC later decided to seek self-rule in the south and this month advanced in a surprise <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/separatists-claim-broad-control-southern-yemen-2025-12-08\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">offensive<\/a> against Saudi-supported Yemeni government troops, bringing the Gulf allies UAE and Saudi Arabia closer than ever to confrontation in Yemen and <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/how-yemens-southern-power-shift-heightens-risk-turbulent-region-2025-12-09\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">risking reigniting<\/a> a long civil war.<\/p>\n<p>The advance broke years of stalemate, with the STC claiming broad control of the south, including the strategically key province of Hadramout. Saudi Arabia had warned the STC against military moves in the eastern border province of Hadramout and sought withdrawal of its forces.<\/p>\n<p>The STC <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/uae-welcomes-saudi-efforts-support-security-yemen-foreign-ministry-says-2025-12-26\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dismissed the Saudi call<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The limited airstrike early on Tuesday followed the weekend arrival of two ships from the UAE port of Fujairah on Saturday and Sunday without its authorisation, the coalition said.<\/p>\n<p>After arriving in Mukalla, the vessels disabled their tracking systems and unloaded large quantities of weapons and combat vehicles to support the STC, it added.<\/p>\n<p>The Saudi state news agency published a video showing a ship it identified as &#8220;Greenland&#8221; from which it said weapons and combat vehicles were unloaded, adding that it came from the Emirati port of Fujairah.<\/p>\n<p>STRIKE CAUSED NO CASUALTIES, SAUDI STATE MEDIA SAY<\/p>\n<p>The coalition said the Mukalla port strike caused no casualties or collateral damage, according to Saudi state media.<\/p>\n<p>Two sources told Reuters that the strike targeted the dock where the cargo of the two ships was unloaded.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters could not immediately verify what had been struck or the nature or origin of any cargoes that may have been targeted.<\/p>\n<p>Footage on Yemen&#8217;s state TV showed what it said was black smoke rising from the port in the early morning after the strike, with burned vehicles at the port.<\/p>\n<p>Yemeni presidential council head Alimi imposed a no-fly zone, and a sea and ground blockade on all ports and crossings for 72 hours, except for exemptions authorised by the coalition.<\/p>\n<p>Hadramout borders Saudi Arabia and has cultural and historical ties with it. Many prominent Saudis trace their origins to the area.<\/p>\n<p>Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the STC and the deputy head of the presidential council, said in a joint statement with three other members of the council that the UAE remains a main partner in the fight against the Houthis.<\/p>\n<p>The statement rejected Alimi&#8217;s orders and said they lacked consensus.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We categorically affirm that no individual or entity within or outside the leadership council has the authority to remove any country from the Arab Coalition,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is a matter governed by regional frameworks, alliances, and international agreements that are not subject to whims or individual decisions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Since 2022 the STC has been part of an alliance that controls southern areas outside Houthi control, under a Saudi-backed power-sharing initiative.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis control the northern region, including Sanaa, the capital, after forcing the Saudi-backed government to flee south.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We will continue to prevent any military support from any country to any Yemeni faction without coordination with the legitimate government,&#8221; the coalition added.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by Yomna Ehab, Hatem Maher and Mohammed Ghobari in Cairo; Nayera Abdallah, Ahmed Elimam and Jana Choukeir in Dubai, writing by Maha El Dahan and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Aidan Lewis<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/maha-el-dahan\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">Maha has been working as a Reuters journalist for over 15 years covering stories across the Middle East from Egypt, the Gulf, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. She is currently Gulf Bureau Chief based in Dubai and continues to cover energy and OPEC policy. In her previous roles, Maha has overseen Lebanon, Syria and Jordan coverage as Bureau Chief based in Beirut and managed the energy and commodities file across the Middle East. Maha began her career with Reuters in Cairo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Saudi-backed head of Yemen&#8217;s presidential council asks UAE to leave Saudi-led coalition pitted against UAE-backed southern separatists No&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":479931,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[70356,3774,216161,217476,217459,216141,216208,165876,165863,216209,165869,217473,217475,165886,165866,217313,165881,165890,216154,217474,165872,165879,216163,165889,165867,165873,165887,165885,165884,165853,103001,216150,165856,216199,217311,50,216143,216156,165860,217470,217351,139837,216145,217310,242,217465,217316,18705,217471,216158,216157,217472,173027,217477,217469,131,103,75377],"class_list":{"0":"post-479930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-ae","9":"tag-asia","10":"tag-asxpac","11":"tag-cele","12":"tag-cmpelc","13":"tag-cwp","14":"tag-destabn","15":"tag-destafa","16":"tag-destcsa","17":"tag-destdnp","18":"tag-destg","19":"tag-destgbn","20":"tag-destgfn","21":"tag-destgns","22":"tag-destlby","23":"tag-destmetop","24":"tag-desto","25":"tag-destoil","26":"tag-destouswdm","27":"tag-destpen","28":"tag-destpge","29":"tag-destpsc","30":"tag-destrast","31":"tag-destrbn","32":"tag-destreulb","33":"tag-destrnp","34":"tag-destrws","35":"tag-destrwsa","36":"tag-destucdptest","37":"tag-dip","38":"tag-emea","39":"tag-emrg","40":"tag-gen","41":"tag-inds","42":"tag-meast","43":"tag-news","44":"tag-news1","45":"tag-packageworld-news","46":"tag-pol","47":"tag-prtsv","48":"tag-pxp","49":"tag-sa","50":"tag-secur","51":"tag-swasia","52":"tag-tech","53":"tag-teeq","54":"tag-tglf","55":"tag-tmt","56":"tag-tnsi","57":"tag-topcmb","58":"tag-topnws","59":"tag-tpt","60":"tag-tran","61":"tag-tvvid","62":"tag-vio","63":"tag-war","64":"tag-world","65":"tag-ye"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=479930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/479931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=479930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=479930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}