Dubai (United Arab Emirates), 30 Dec. (LaPresse/AP) – The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen after receiving an ultimatum to do so. The announcement was made by the Emirati Ministry of Defence in a statement released through the state news agency WAM, citing ‘recent developments and their potential repercussions on the security and effectiveness of counter-terrorism operations’. The date of the withdrawal was not specified. This morning, Saudi Arabia launched air strikes on the port city of Mukalla in Yemen, claiming to have targeted a shipment of weapons destined for separatists supported by the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels subsequently asked the United Arab Emirates to withdraw its troops within 24 hours of the attacks.