End of the Honeymoon: Yemen’s Exiled Government Breaks with UAE
Rashad al‑Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, declared a 90‑day state of emergency, canceled the joint agreement with the UAE, and ordered Emirati forces to leave all Yemeni territory within 24 hours.
In his morning statement, al‑Alimi also announced a 72‑hour suspension of air, sea, and land activity across all ports and crossings, except with official authorization from the Saudi‑led coalition command.
Administrative powers for Hadramaut and al‑Mahra provinces were handed to their governors, who must coordinate with al‑Dara’ al‑Watan forces to take over camps. All military units are instructed to return to their previous positions under Saudi coalition coordination and hand over sites peacefully.
This declaration signals the end of cooperation between Yemen’s exiled government and the UAE in confronting Ansar Allah, marking a rift within the Saudi‑UAE coalition. The separatist ambitions of the Southern Transitional Council clash with Saudi objectives, as a southern Yemen is seen as a threat to both Saudi and Omani security. With the Beijing agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia reducing the likelihood of renewed conflict with Ansar Allah, Riyadh appears intent on pursuing its plans in Yemen without the Emiratis, offering no concessions to southern ambitions.
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