The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours.

The presidential council has also imposed a state of emergency for 90 days and 72-hour ban on all border crossings into territory they hold. As well as, cancelling the joint defence agreement with the UAE.

This comes after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched a “limited air strike” targeting what it describes as foreign military support at the Mukalla port.

On Tuesday morning, they targeted two ships they say were carrying large quantities of weapons and combat vehicles to “support” the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said two ships arrived at Mukalla port from the UAE over the weekend without any authorisation from the coalition.

This comes days after the Saudi-led coalition warned the southern separatist group against making military moves in Yemen’s eastern province of Hadramout.

Saudi state media has reported that there were no casualties from the strike. While, the coalition spokesperson said the operation was out in accordance with international humanitarian law. 

Yemen has been entangled in a civil war since 2014.

The STC separatists were once part of the Saudi-led alliance that intervened Yemen against the Houthis in 2015. Since then, they have broken away from the alliance.

These recent advances have put pressure on ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which both countries support rival groups within Yemen’s government.

Saudia Arabia has called the UAE's support for a separatist offensive in Yemen a "threat to the Kingdom's national security".

There has been no immediate comment from the UAE on the air strike and statement.

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