The UAE on Tuesday said it will pull out its remaining counter-terrorism forces in Yemen after pressure from Saudi Arabia.
The UAE's defence ministry, in a statement via its state-run WAM news agency, said the country categorically rejects any attempt to implicate in in the ongoing tensions between rival Yemeni groups. It also denied that the UAE directed the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) to launch military operations that undermine Saudi Arabia's security.
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This comes hours after Saudi airstrikes targeted a weapons shipment bound for UAE-backed separatists in Yemen at Port of Mukalla. Forces allied against Houthi rebels later called for the UAE to withdraw its troops within 24 hours after the strikes.
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday alleged the UAE had pressured the STC to carry out military operations that had reached the kingdom's borders.
However, the UAE defence ministry claimed that the targeted shipment did not contain any weapons nor the the unloaded vehicles were intended for any Yemeni party. It further clarified that the shipment was intended for UAE forces operating in Yemen.
"The UAE reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its full respect for the Kingdom’s sovereignty and national security, and its rejection of any actions that could threaten the security of the Kingdom or the wider region," read the statement.
The ministry said the historical and brotherly ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia act as a cornerstone of stability in the Gulf region.
"The Ministry notes that these developments raise legitimate questions regarding how this issue and its potential repercussions have been addressed, at a time that demands the highest levels of coordination, restraint and wisdom, particularly given the prevailing security challenges and threats posed by terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, the Houthis and the Muslim Brotherhood, within the framework of international efforts aimed at combating terrorism and extremism and fostering opportunities for de-escalation and stability," it added.
