UAE denies involvement in Yemen land offensive talks

UAE Refutes Claims of Participating in Yemen Ground Offensive Talks

DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday firmly rejected recent media reports suggesting it is engaged in discussions with the United States regarding a potential ground assault in Yemen targeting the Houthi rebel group.

Lana Nusseibeh, UAE’s Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, dismissed the allegations as “wild unsubstantiated stories” in a statement to Reuters, refuting claims of UAE involvement in any such military planning.

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that anti-Houthi Yemeni factions were preparing a ground operation along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, allegedly leveraging U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets. The report also claimed that the UAE had brought the plan to the attention of American officials.

Similarly, Bloomberg stated on Wednesday that Yemeni forces opposing the Houthis were in talks with both the U.S. and Gulf countries concerning a possible land operation.

Despite being a key part of the Saudi-led coalition that launched a military intervention in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government, the UAE had significantly reduced its involvement in the fighting by 2019. A ceasefire in 2022 halted major fighting, allowing the Houthis to gain control of western Yemen, including the most densely populated areas.

In November 2023, the Houthis, who have close ties to Iran and oppose Israel, began attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, claiming to support Palestinians in Gaza. Under the administration of President Donald Trump, US airstrikes have increased in response, starting in March 2024.

Despite recent media speculation, the UAE insists that it is not involved in any current plans or talks regarding a renewed ground offensive in Yemen.