WSJ: Escalating Saudi-UAE Tensions Pose a Diplomatic Headache for the U.S.
Tehran - BORNA - According to the Wall Street Journal, the intensifying friction between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia following clashes in southern and eastern Yemen is an "unfavorable situation" for Washington. This rift emerges at a critical time as the U.S. attempts to focus its efforts on Iran.
Unprecedented Direct Conflict in Al-Mukalla
The Saudi-led coalition recently announced the end of its military operations in the eastern Yemeni port of Al-Mukalla. This followed targeted strikes against UAE shipments intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC)—a group the Riyadh-backed coalition classifies as "separatist."
This marks the first reported instance of Saudi forces directly opening fire on targets linked to the STC, which is funded and supported by the UAE. The strikes followed a tense weekend where Saudi Arabia issued a deadline for the separatists to withdraw from the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah, which they had seized in a rapid offensive earlier this month.
A Complication for U.S. Regional Strategy
The Wall Street Journal notes that this discord represents a significant escalation and a deepening divide between the two Gulf allies. "This disagreement constitutes a diplomatic challenge for the United States and is a troublesome complication amidst Washington’s efforts to contain Iran and persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program," the American outlet wrote.
Riyadh’s Disappointment and the UAE Withdrawal
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia expressed its "disappointment" over the UAE’s continued support for STC forces in Yemen, stating that such actions are considered a threat to Saudi national security. Riyadh has formally called on the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen and cease its support for southern separatists.
In a subsequent development on Tuesday, the UAE announced that it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen, a move that signals the peak of the strategic divergence between the two former partners in the coalition.
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