United Arab Emirates: The War in Yemen is Practically Over for Us

Anwar Gargash, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, stated on Wednesday, June 16, that the mission of the UAE's military forces in the Yemen war is 'practically over.' Gargash's remarks were made during a closed-door meeting and were reflected on Twitter by Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. According to Reuters, this UAE government official said, 'Our position is clear today. The war is practically over for our forces.' The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led military coalition in the Yemen war, supporting the Yemeni exiled government against the Houthi rebels. However, now, about 15 months after this military intervention, the UAE's Foreign Minister emphasizes diplomatic methods to strengthen the Yemeni government. Anwar Gargash stated, 'We are thinking about political agreements, and our political role is now to strengthen the Yemeni government in the liberated areas.' Last summer, Houthi rebel forces killed 60 coalition military personnel, 52 of whom were Emirati soldiers, by firing a missile at the coalition's military headquarters. Reuters reports that while Saudi Arabia pressures the Houthi forces in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, the UAE is working to establish stability in the southern city of Aden, which is under intermittent attacks from Al-Qaeda and militants of the group known as the Islamic State. In this context, more than 40 Yemeni police officers were killed in a suicide bombing. The Pentagon: The presence of U.S. military forces in Yemen alongside the Arab coalition. Protests against the removal of Saudi Arabia from the UN blacklist. Removal of the Saudi-led coalition from the list of child rights violators.