UAE rejects 'baseless' accusations about weapons shipment, role in Yemen

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE (Mofa) has released a statement regarding the ongoing situation in Yemen, in response to Saudi Arabia's statement about the same.

In the statement, the UAE expressed its strong condemnation of what was said in Saudi Arabia's statement. Mofa pointed out that there were "serious factual inaccuracies" in the statement, and denied claims that it contributed to escalating tensions, or provided weapons to Yemeni factions.

It also condemned claims that it directed military operations that affected Saudi Arabia's border security. The UAE stressed that the fraternal and historical relations between the two countries constitute a fundamental pillar of regional stability, and that the UAE is keen on full coordination with the Kingdom.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

The Ministry of Defence followed with a statement of its own, announcing the withdrawal of UAE's counter-terrorism units from Yemen.

UAE's position

The UAE has reiterated that its position since the beginning of events in Yemen has been one of "prudence, wisdom, and professionalism in action." It said that it has always supported ceasefire tracks and measures that protect civilians, in coordination with Saudi Arabia.

In response to Saudi Arabia's statement

The Mofa has affirmed that UAE completely rejects allegations of fuelling the Yemeni conflict, saying that Saudi's statement about the incident at Mukalla port was made without consulting member states of the Arab Coalition.

It also confirmed that the shipment referred to did not include any weapons, and that the vehicles mentioned were not allocated to any Yemeni party, but were shipped for use by UAE forces operating in Yemen. It added that UAE and Saudi Arabia had an agreement that the vehicles would remain at the port until UAE completed its inspections for use.

UAE presence in Yemen

The Mofa stressed that UAE's presence in Yemen was due to an invitation from the official Yemeni government, and is within the framework of the Arab Coalition — which is led by Saudi Arabia. It added that its aim was to support legitimacy and combat terrorism, while fully respecting the sovereignty of Yemen.

The Mofa statement also pointed out that the UAE has made significant sacrifices since the launch of Coalition operations, and has stood by the Yemeni people.

Self-restraint and wisdom

Mofa concluded its statement by saying that the recent developments raise questions about how incidents are handled, saying that they require the highest levels of coordination, self-restraint, and wisdom. It also said that existing security challenges and threats posed by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and the Houthi militias must be taken into account as well.

It stressed the importance of dealing with such matters responsibly, equipped with facts, and in a way that prevents escalation and works towards ending the crisis in Yemen.

Withdrawal from Yemen

The Ministry of Defence announced that UAE's counter-terrorism units would be withdrawn from Yemen, following the withdrawal of military units that happened in 2019. It said that the decision was voluntary, and would be taken "in a manner that ensures the safety of its personnel and in coordination with the relevant partners".