UAE says it ends mission of remaining forces in Yemen voluntarily

Saudi-led coalition strike on military shipments in Yemeni port of Mukalla

Emergency responders work on the site of a Saudi-led coalition airstrike, which targeted what it described as foreign military support to UAE-backed southern separatists, in Yemen's southern port of Mukalla, in this screengrab from a handout video obtained by Reuters on December 30, 2025. Aden al-Mustakillah TV/Handout via REUTERS

Source: Handout

The United Arab Emirates' defence ministry said on Tuesday it has voluntarily ended the mission of its counterterrorism units in Yemen, the only remaining forces it has in the country after ending its military presence in 2019.

It said the decision came after a comprehensive assessment following recent developments, state news agency WAM reported, citing a statement from the ministry.

The move comes after a Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla in what Riyadh said was an attack on a UAE-linked weapons shipment.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters