Tue Dec 30 15:03:11 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewrite as a news article:
Summary:
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates escalated in Yemen on December 30, 2025. Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes targeting weapons shipments allegedly destined for UAE-backed southern separatists in Mukalla, a key port city. The UAE denied shipping weapons, claiming the vehicles were for their own forces and that Saudi Arabia knew about the shipment. Following the strikes, forces allied with Saudi Arabia demanded the UAE withdraw its troops from Yemen within 24 hours, while UAE-backed separatists voiced support for the Emirati presence. The UAE stated it would withdraw its remaining forces due to “recent developments”, strained ties between the two nations, the confrontation threatens to open a new front in Yemen’s war, potentially pitting anti-Houthi forces against each other. The strikes and ultimatum highlight growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over regional politics and economic competition.
News Article:
Saudi Airstrikes, Ultimatum Trigger UAE Withdrawal from Yemen Amid Rising Tensions
Mukalla, Yemen – Airstrikes by Saudi Arabia targeting a port in Mukalla and an ultimatum for troop withdrawal have prompted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to announce the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen, signaling a significant escalation in tensions between the two Gulf allies.
The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, claiming to have targeted a weapons shipment bound for UAE-backed southern separatists known as the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Saudi Arabia alleged that the shipment, arriving from Fujairah in the UAE, posed an “imminent threat” to regional stability. The UAE denied shipping weapons, claiming the vehicles were for their own forces and that Saudi Arabia knew about the shipment ahead of time.
Following the strikes, forces allied with Saudi Arabia demanded the UAE withdraw its troops from Yemen within 24 hours. In response, the UAE’s Defence Ministry stated it would withdraw its remaining forces, citing “recent developments and their potential repercussions.”
This confrontation marks a concerning shift in the dynamics of Yemen’s decade-long war. Experts warn that it could open a new front, potentially pitting anti-Houthi forces, previously united against the Iranian-backed rebels, against each other. The STC, which controls key areas in southern Yemen, is backed by the UAE, while other anti-Houthi factions are aligned with Saudi Arabia.
The strikes and ultimatum highlight growing competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, neighbors who have increasingly clashed over economic issues and regional influence, particularly in the Red Sea region.
“I expect a calibrated escalation from both sides,” said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert and founder of the Basha Report. He anticipates the STC will consolidate its control while the flow of weapons from the UAE to the STC will be curtailed.
The events have triggered a state of emergency among anti-Houthi forces not aligned with the separatists, with border crossings and ports now subject to restrictions. The United Nations has urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The conflict in Yemen has already resulted in over 150,000 deaths and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE threaten to further destabilize the country and complicate efforts to find a peaceful resolution.
First Piper 