Yemen's President Orders UAE Forces to Leave Within 24 Hours Amid Rising Tensions
In a significant shift in Yemen's political and military landscape, President Rashad Alimi of the Presidential Leadership Council announced on Tuesday the termination of the joint defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates. He demanded that Emirati forces vacate Yemen within 24 hours, stating that "Yemen cannot afford to open new fronts of attrition" and asserting that the nation is "stronger with the support of the Saudi-led coalition."
In a televised address, Alimi highlighted that the Southern Transitional Council has refused to engage in dialogue to resolve ongoing disputes, citing the shipment of weapons on two vessels from Fujairah, UAE, to the Southern Transitional Council forces in Hadramaut and Al Mahra as an unacceptable escalation.
He added: "The role of the UAE has become directed against the Yemeni people."
President Alimi reaffirmed the state's commitment to protecting civilians, announcing a 72-hour air, sea, and land lockdown in Yemen, along with a 90-day state of emergency, which may be extended. He noted that actions from the Saudi coalition are exempt from this prohibition.
Alimi also instructed the "National Shield" forces to mobilize and take control of camps in Hadramaut and Al Mahra provinces, granting governors the authority to manage provincial affairs.
He emphasized that "the blood of Yemenis is a red line that cannot be crossed," asserting that the Presidential Leadership Council is the sole constitutional framework for resolving disputes. He condemned any exploitation of the southern issue for illegitimate political objectives as entirely unacceptable.
He added: "We have never abandoned our responsibilities in the southern provinces."
Alimi's declaration came shortly after General Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the coalition forces, revealed that two ships from Fujairah entered the port of Al Mukalla without official permits, carrying weapons and combat vehicles to support the Southern Transitional Council, which constitutes a violation of the ceasefire and infringes upon UN Security Council Resolution 2216 from 2015.
Al-Maliki reported that the coalition conducted a limited military operation on Tuesday morning to target the weapons and vehicles unloaded at Al Mukalla port, assuring that the operation was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law, without causing human casualties or collateral damage.
He also emphasized the coalition's ongoing leadership in de-escalating tensions and preventing any military support to any Yemeni faction without coordination with the legitimate Yemeni government, aiming to maintain security and stability and avert the expansion of conflict.
