The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have renewed their military cooperation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, with the UAE resuming financial support for Yemeni government forces and Saudi Arabia pledging air support for the coalition. This alliance aims to counter the increasing military advances and attacks by the Houthis across the region.
The renewed collaboration marks a potential thaw in relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have previously been strained over differences regarding Yemen’s political future and the involvement of southern separatist forces. The UAE had withdrawn its military involvement in Yemen earlier this year, after previously training and funding southern units like the Giant Brigades.
Saudi Arabia continues to face threats from the Houthis, who have launched repeated drone and missile attacks targeting the kingdom’s airports and energy infrastructure. In response, Yemen’s internationally recognized government has initiated a counteroffensive to reclaim key areas, including those near Marib and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, though gains have been limited.
Recent tensions have also flared up in Aden, where a Houthi missile strike landed near the city’s airport as a passenger aircraft was preparing for take-off. This incident followed another strike on a presidential palace, resulting in at least five deaths and 16 injuries.
The conflict in Yemen raises broader regional security concerns, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi indicating potential defensive measures to support Saudi Arabia, while the United Kingdom considers additional military assistance requests. The ongoing violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 200,000 people since August, as reported by the United Nations, putting further strain on humanitarian efforts in the region.