UAE welcomes Saudi efforts to support security in Yemen amid STC advance

"The United Arab Emirates has welcomed Saudi Arabian efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and remains committed to backing stability in the country, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The UAE statement on Friday came a day after Saudi Arabia said it hopes Yemen's main southern separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), will end an escalation and withdraw its forces from the eastern provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra."

"The STC, which previously received military and financial backing from the UAE, pushed the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government from its headquarters in Aden while claiming broad control across the south earlier this month. The UAE reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to supporting all endeavours aimed at strengthening stability and development in Yemen, the Emirati Foreign Ministry said in its statement. On December 12, a joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in Aden to discuss measures aimed at defusing tensions in the country."

"Saudi Arabia said the teams were sent to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the return of STC forces to their previous positions outside the two provinces, adding that the efforts were still in progress. The STC advance has threatened to prompt a confrontation within a fragile coalition that has been battling the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen's north for a decade."

Saudi Arabia instructed Yemeni separatists to withdraw from eastern governorates seized this month. The United Arab Emirates welcomed Saudi efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and committed to backing stability in the country. The Southern Transitional Council (STC), which previously received military and financial backing from the UAE, seized the Saudi-backed government's headquarters in Aden and claimed broad control across the south. A joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in Aden on December 12 to discuss measures to defuse tensions and arrange the return of STC forces to positions outside Hadramout and al-Mahra. The STC advance risks confrontation within the anti-Houthi coalition amid a decade-long conflict with Houthi control of northern Yemen, including Sanaa.

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