ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday that it has ended its military presence in Yemen, saying all remaining personnel have now been withdrawn.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country had already ended its main military role in Yemen in 2019 after completing its missions within agreed frameworks. It added that any forces remaining afterward were limited to specialized personnel involved in counterterrorism operations.

“In light of recent developments and their potential implications for the safety and effectiveness of counterterrorism missions, the Ministry of Defence announces the termination of the remaining counterterrorism personnel in Yemen of its own volition,” the statement said, adding that the withdrawal was carried out in coordination with relevant partners.

The announcement came hours after Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi demanded that UAE forces withdraw from Yemeni territory within 24 hours, amid escalating tensions involving the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

al-Alimi said Yemen “cannot withstand the opening of new fronts of attrition,” stressing that the country’s strength lies in the support of the Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

He accused the STC of rejecting repeated calls to resolve disputes through dialogue and constitutional institutions.

Al-Alimi described the arrival of two ships carrying weapons from the UAE port of Fujairah to the STC as “a dangerous escalatory step,” referring to shipments that entered the port of Al-Mukalla without authorization from coalition leadership.

He announced the cancellation of Yemen’s joint defense agreement with the UAE, saying Abu Dhabi’s role “has become directed against the Yemeni people,” and reiterated his demand for the withdrawal of all Emirati forces.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday also expressed regret over actions involved pressure by the UAE on forces affiliated with the STC, leading to military operations near the Kingdom’s southern border in the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Maharah.

In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such moves pose a threat to the Kingdom’s national security, as well as to the security and stability of Yemen and the wider region.

The ministry described the steps as “highly dangerous,” saying they do not align with the principles on which the Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen was founded, nor with its objective of achieving security and stability.

Riyadh cited statements by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and the coalition’s Joint Forces Command regarding the movement of ships carrying weapons and heavy vehicles from Fujairah to Al-Mukalla without official authorization.