Saudi Arabia Issues 24-Hour Ultimatum to UAE Over Yemen, Threatens Military Action

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has issued a direct warning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demanding that it withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours, failing which Riyadh has not ruled out military action. The warning comes in the wake of UAE-supplied weapons being targeted in airstrikes by Saudi forces on Yemen’s Mukalla port.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the country would take all necessary measures to protect its national security and would not hesitate to act against any perceived threats. Riyadh directly linked the advances of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen to UAE support, calling the situation “extremely dangerous.” Previously, the Saudi Air Force conducted airstrikes on Mukalla port, targeting a weapons shipment allegedly sent by the UAE to support the STC.

Saudi Arabia emphasized that national security is a red line and pledged to defend it. Meanwhile, Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Council, has instructed all UAE troops to leave Yemeni territory within 24 hours. In a televised address, he praised Saudi Arabia and the coalition forces and announced the cancellation of Yemen’s defense agreement with the UAE.

Following the Saudi airstrikes, Houthi-opposed forces in Yemen declared a state of emergency. The council announced the closure of all border checkpoints for 72 hours and restricted access to airports and ports, except for those approved by Saudi authorities. No immediate response has been received from the UAE regarding the airstrikes.

The escalating conflict has raised tensions in already war-torn Yemen and poses a threat to the fragile Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in northern Yemen for over a decade. Southern separatists had earlier accused Saudi forces of air attacks on their positions in Hadramout, though Riyadh did not immediately confirm these claims.