Saudi Arabia Supports Yemen Presidential Council's Demand for UAE Withdrawal After Coalition Strike on Mukalla
Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's eight-member presidential council's demand for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to withdraw within 24 hours following a Saudi-led coalition air strike on Mukalla. The coalition stated that the strike targeted a weapons shipment intended for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). The Saudi foreign ministry accused the UAE of pressuring the STC to initiate offensives in the Hadramawt and al-Mahra regions, describing these actions as highly dangerous and announcing it would take measures to confront them.
In response, the UAE foreign ministry denied that the shipment contained weapons, expressing regret over the Saudi statement. It asserted that the shipments were not destined for any Yemeni party and denied exerting pressure or directing operations against Saudi security.
STC leaders rejected the withdrawal ultimatum, stating it has no legal basis and reaffirmed the STC as a principal partner in the fight against the Houthis. Concurrently, Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidential council, canceled the joint defence pact with the UAE and ordered UAE forces to leave Yemen. He also declared a 90-day state of emergency to confront the Houthis as well as an internal mutiny linked to the UAE.
Maj-Gen Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, confirmed conducting a limited air strike on weapons and military vehicles destined for the STC in Mukalla. The targeted shipments had arrived on two ships from the UAE and were considered to pose an imminent threat.
An official at Mukalla port reported that an evacuation warning was issued at 04:00 local time approximately 15 minutes before the air strike. The strike caused damage to a vehicle area and a nearby building, but no casualties were reported.
