In a cabinet session chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen’s security, stability, and sovereignty. Information Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dosari stated that the Kingdom “will not hesitate” to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national security.
The cabinet commended the role of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in protecting civilians in Yemen’s eastern provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahra. These efforts, acting on a request from the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, have contributed to de-escalation, strengthening security and stability, and preventing the conflict from widening.
UAE Withdrawal
However, the cabinet expressed regret over the deterioration of de-escalation efforts, which Saudi Arabia had sought to advance. They described the situation as an “unjustified escalation” that runs counter to the principles on which they established the coalition.
The cabinet also called on the UAE to respond to a request from Yemen for the withdrawal of Emirati forces within 24 hours and to halt any military or financial support to the Southern Transitional Council or any other parties inside Yemen.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia urged the UAE to take steps to preserve bilateral relations between the two countries, which the Kingdom said it is keen to strengthen. They emphasized the importance of promoting prosperity, development, and stability across the region.
Meanwhile, the UAE announced the voluntary end of its counter-terrorism mission in Yemen, withdrawing its remaining specialized teams from the country. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that the decision was taken “of its own volition” to ensure the safety of its personnel, citing “recent developments” that had undermined the effectiveness of its operations.
