Saudis Demand UAE Withdrawal from Yemen After Port Strikes, Tensions Escalate

• Saudi Arabia publicly urged the UAE to withdraw forces from Yemen within 24 hours and halt support for armed groups, accusing Abu Dhabi of pressuring a separatist group.
• The demand followed Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Yemen's Mukalla port, targeting a weapons shipment from UAE's Fujairah port intended for the Abu Dhabi-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
• The UAE denied pressuring any Yemeni party or threatening Saudi Arabia, stating the shipment contained vehicles for its own forces and reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen's sovereignty.
• The two former allies back rival factions in Yemen: Riyadh supports the internationally-recognized government, while the UAE backs the STC, deepening rifts and stalling peace efforts.
• Despite past alignment on regional foreign policy, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also competitors in oil output and foreign investment, with the US urging restraint amid rising tensions.

Why It Matters: Saudi Arabia demands UAE withdrawal from Yemen, escalating tensions between the former allies over the conflict.