By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Yemen, 30 December 2025 Yemen has announced the cancellation of its joint defense and security agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ordered the withdrawal of all Emirati forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours.
The decision came after the UAE sent weapons-laden aircraft to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in southern Yemen, which oppose the Yemeni government.
Rashad al-Alimi, the Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, who made the statement, said all Emirati forces must leave the country. “All Emirati forces must withdraw from Yemeni territory within 24 hours,” he stated.
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Additionally, Yemen declared a state of emergency across the country, effective immediately for a period of 90 days. A 72-hour ban on air, sea, and land movement, particularly on border crossings and ports, was also imposed, according to al-Alimi.
This decision comes amid growing tensions between the Yemeni government and UAE, which has supported the secessionist group in southern Yemen. Yemen has long accused the UAE of interfering in the country's internal affairs.
Recently, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen carried out a limited airstrike targeting two ships at the Mukalla port in Yemen. The spokesperson for the Coalition Forces, General Turki al-Maliki, stated that ships arriving from the UAE’s Fujairah port entered Mukalla port on December 27-28 without official authorization from the Joint Forces Command of the coalition.
