SAUDI ARABIA BOMBS YEMEN – UAE WITHDRAWS FOR DIPLOMACY | PHOTO BY STRINGER / AFP

Written by Michael Thervil

SAUDI ARABIA BOMBS YEMEN – UAE WITHDRAWS FOR DIPLOMACY | PHOTO BY STRINGER / AFP

[Saudi Arabia Bombs Yemen UAE] With both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) backing their respective proxies in Yemen, Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance (HTA) and the Southern Transitional Forces (STC) which led to chaos and violence erupting in southern Yemen. Typically, when people hear Yemen, they tend to think of Ansarullah (Houthis) as they have made a name for themselves within the international community and the failed joint military venture between the UAE and Saudi Arabia geared toward Ansarullah in 2015. Contrastingly enough, the two OPEC oil giants who are technically allies in the region have been at odds as each one seeks to acquire political influence and dominance in Yemen.

Today Saudi Arabia executed a series of strategic bombings on shipping docks in Al Mukalla which is a Yemeni port city because they believe that two native ships from Fujairah, UAE were transporting weapons and other military assets to the STC without the collective authorization to do so on Saturday and Sunday. It was reported that no one was killed during the Saudi led bombing campaign. It should be noted that there hasn’t been a declaration made to the Press about what was damaged and/or destroyed due to the bombing.

While Saudi Arabia charged the UAE of acting in “highly dangerous” ways that could adversely affect the national security of Saudi Arabia. The UAE rejected Saudi Arabia’s claims of threatening their national security apparatus by not only executing an offensive against the Yemeni troops who are backed by Saudi Arabia: but also, for emboldening detractors to “rebel against the state authority” and escalate militarily” within Yemen. The UAE also stated that the weapons in question were not going to STC, but to the Yemeni military.

Despite their attempt to reason with Saudi Arabia, the UAE ultimately stated that they would withdraw its counter-terrorism units from Yemen in order to “prevent escalation”, which also means that they’re wishing to maintain positive diplomatic relations. The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia stated to the press that “The Kingdom stresses that any threat to its national security is a red line, and the Kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralize any such threat”.

Saudi Arabia expressed that they believe that the UAE were attempting to “pressure” the STC to execute counterterrorism missions on the Saudi-Yemen border and sparked a battle with Ansarullah (Houthis) who are allied with Iran. Currently, Rashad al-Alimi who serves as the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council failed to follow through with a defense deal with the UAE and has given the UAE and the STC 24-hour ultimatum to vacate themselves from Yemen. In addition, Rashad al-Alimi has also imposed a 24-hour blockage on all border entry points (sea, land, and air) in Yemen for 72-hours.