ADEN, Yemen -- Four members of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), including the chief of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), on Tuesday rejected what they described as "unilateral and illegal decisions" taken by the council's chairman, warning such moves could further destabilize the country.
Earlier in the day, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi declared a 90-day nationwide state of emergency, cancelled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ordered the withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen within 24 hours. (Yemen-State of Emergency-Rejection)
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ABU DHABI -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Tuesday it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen due to safety concerns, rejecting allegations about its role in the ongoing developments there.
In a statement carried by the state-run Emirates News Agency, the UAE Ministry of Defence said recent developments in Yemen "could affect the safety and effectiveness of its counter-terrorism operations." (Yemen-UAE-Military Withdrawal)
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RIYADH/ABU DHABI -- The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Tuesday that two vessels entering the southern port of Mukalla were carrying containers loaded with weapons and ammunition.
In a post, coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said the vessels entered the port without obtaining entry permits from the Yemeni government or the Coalition Command, in response to a statement by the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry claiming that the shipment contained no weapons and was destined for Emirati forces. (Saudi-led coalition-Vessels-Weapons)
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Tehran -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Tuesday to accelerate key energy and transport agreements, reinforcing a strategic partnership amid Western pressure.
In a phone call, the leaders stressed the need for "accurate and speedy" progress on joint projects, including power plant construction and transport infrastructure development, the Iranian presidency said. Pezeshkian described the completion of these bilateral agreements as a "main priority" for Tehran and called for regular follow-ups to ensure close coordination. (Iran-Russia-Energy Cooperation) ■
