Yemen: Military Withdrawal Not a Rupture with UAE

The chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has clarified that his government's recent decision to end the military presence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the country is not an act of hostility. Rashad al-Alimi stated the measures "were not driven by a desire for escalation or revenge." He emphasized the move does not mean a break in diplomatic relations between the two nations. The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led coalition. This coalition has fought for years against the Houthi movement in Yemen's ongoing civil war. The UAE formally reduced its military involvement in 2019 but maintained influence through local forces. Al-Alimi's comments aim to calm tensions after the Yemeni government ordered all UAE-backed troops to integrate under its formal command. The statement seeks to separate military restructuring from broader bilateral relations.