Politics Yemen: Defense agreement with the Emirates ended
In Yemen, the government has declared the agreement with the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Huthi to be over and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Emirati troops. "All Emirati troops must withdraw from Yemeni territory within 24 hours," said Presidential Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi in a televised speech. The long-standing alliance between the government and Saudi Arabia and the Emirates in the fight against the Houthis has thus effectively come to an end and a surprising conflict between the actual allies has escalated.
30.12.2025, 10:31
SDA
Al-Alimi announced a nationwide state of emergency for 90 days. An air, land and sea blockade was imposed on Yemen for 72 hours. The regulation applies de facto to southern and eastern Yemen - the north, including the capital Sanaa, is controlled by the Houthi militia.
A civil war has been raging in Yemen for around a decade, mainly between the Houthi militia on the one hand and the alliance of Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and the Yemeni government on the other. However, the Emirates and Saudi Arabia are also rivals in the Gulf, vying for influence and resources in the region. The two states also support different sides in the Sudan conflict.
Separatists put Saudi Arabia under pressure in Yemen
In recent weeks, the conflict between the actual allies has come to a head in Yemen, an impoverished country on the Arabian Peninsula. The separatists of the so-called Southern Transitional Council (STC), who are supported by the Emirates, seized large areas in the oil-rich provinces of Hadramaut and al-Mahra at the beginning of December, putting pressure on the government and its ally Saudi Arabia. The separatists are striving for an independent South Yemen in the country, which was already divided from 1967 to 1990.
According to the STC, Saudi Arabia then bombed separatist positions, although there were reportedly no casualties. Observers initially spoke of a warning from Riyadh. The kingdom then explicitly called on the separatists to withdraw from the provinces.
In the morning, Saudi forces then bombed targets in the port of Mukalla, which is located on the Gulf of Aden on the Yemeni coast. A "limited military operation" was carried out there, according to the alliance led by Saudi Arabia in the fight against the Houthis. The operation targeted weapons and military vehicles that had been unloaded from two ships in the port. It is believed that the separatists were to receive weapons and other military equipment from the Emirates.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry described the Emirates' actions as "extremely dangerous". Any threat to Saudi Arabia's national security is a "red line" and the Kingdom will take all necessary steps to eliminate such threats. The province of Hadramaut borders Saudi Arabia, which has long been concerned about its own security due to the war in the neighboring country.
