Move comes after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of backing separatists in Yemen and bombed what it said was an Emirati-weapons shipment in the port of Mukalla.The United Arab Emirates has announced the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen, declaring an end to what it called “counterterrorism” operations there, after Saudi Arabia accused Abu Dhabi of supporting separatists in Yemen.The announcement on Tuesday came after Yemen’s internationally recognised government demanded the UAE pull its forces from the country within 24 hours, a call backed by Saudi Arabia.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listHours earlier, Saudi Arabian-led coalition forces also attacked the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh said was a UAE-linked weapons shipment destined for the separatist Southern Transition Council (STC) in Yemen.The STC, which initially supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthi rebels, launched an offensive against the Saudi Arabian-backed government troops this month, seeking an independent state in the south.The advance broke years of deadlock, with the STC seizing control of broad swaths of southern Yemen, including the Hadramout and Mahara provinces, in defiance of warnings from Riyadh.Saudi Arabia accuses the UAE of supporting the STC, but Abu Dhabi denies the claim.Following Tuesday’s rapid-fire events, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said it carried out a “comprehensive assessment” of its role in Yemen and decided to end its mission there.“In light of recent developments and their potential implications for the safety and effectiveness of counterterr …
