- The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday, June 15 that the "war is over" for its troops in Yemen, though it may continue to keep them there for counterterrorism operations, the Associated Press reports.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan carried the announcement on his official Twitter account late Wednesday. He was quoting the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, who had given a speech saying the "war is over for our troops."
An Arabic version of his comments was worded slightly differently than the English one, saying the war is "practically" over.
The statement left open the likelihood that Emirati troops would remain in Yemen, where they operate in the southern province of Hadramawt and the port city of Aden. The Saudi coalition's spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Gargash was also quoted as saying the UAE was "monitoring political arrangements" and "empowering Yemenis in liberated areas."
The UAE has been among the most active members of a Saudi-led coalition that intervened more than a year ago to help forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government roll back gains by Shiite Houthi rebels, who still control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, AP says.
Yemeni security officials told The Associated Press that Emirati troops were still guarding the airport and presidential palace in Aden on Wednesday, where the government of exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has been operating from. Hadi's government was driven out of Sanaa in late 2014. Emirati troops also have a camp in Aden.
Continued fighting on several fronts killed at least 48 people over the past day, according to Yemeni security officials. Another 65 people were wounded in combat between rebels and government forces around the besieged city of Taiz as well as in Shabwa, Jawf and Marib provinces. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.
In addition to fighting the Houthis and their allies in Yemen, the UAE helped the Saudi-led coalition drive al-Qaida from the southern coastal city of Mukalla in April.
