Saudi Arabia ‘regrets’ steps taken by UAE in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has said it is disappointed by steps taken by the United Arab Emirates to pressure Southern Transitional Council forces to operate near the Kingdom’s borders.

In a statement released Tuesday, it warned that such actions threaten its national security and undermine the foundations of the Arab Coalition in Yemen.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its disappointment by the actions taken by the brotherly United Arab Emirates, pressuring the Southern Transitional Council’s forces to conduct military operations on the southern borders of the Kingdom in the governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahara, which is considered a threat to the Kingdom’s national security and the security and stability of the Republic of Yemen and the region,” Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“The steps taken by the UAE are considered highly dangerous, inconsistent with the principles upon which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen was established, and do not serve the coalition’s purpose of achieving security and stability for Yemen,” the statement added.