U.A.E. pulls military forces out of Yemen following tensions with Saudi Arabia

The United Arab Emirates announced on January 2, 2026, that it had withdrawn all its military forces from Yemen, following escalating tensions with Saudi Arabia. The move follows the completion of counterterrorism missions, according to a UAE Defence Ministry statement. The withdrawal comes after Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the UAE, seized control of two southern provinces and took over the Presidential Palace in Aden in December 2025. This prompted Saudi Arabia to conduct airstrikes against STC forces in Hadramout province, marking a significant rift in the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since 2015. The STC announced a constitution for an independent southern Yemen, further destabilizing the coalition's goal of restoring the internationally recognized government.