Ahmed Adly‏‏

Since joining the Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen on March 25, 2015, at the invitation of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has played a pivotal role in countering extremist organizations, reducing the influence of terrorism, and confronting groups such as Al-Qaeda, the Houthi militia, and other extremist factions. The UAE has also trained local forces and delivered extensive humanitarian aid to support stabilization, state-building, and reconstruction efforts in Yemen.&nbsp;A Comprehensive ApproachOver nearly eleven years, the UAE’s counterterrorism efforts in Yemen have extended beyond military action alone. The country adopted a <a href="https://www.europarabct.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9%D8%8C-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-%D8%AC%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">comprehensive approach</a>, combining military and security operations, institutional support, development initiatives, and humanitarian interventions. Key pillars of this approach include:1- Halting Houthi Militia Expansion Plans: The UAE’s intervention was <a href="https://www.aletihad.ae/opinion/4635432/%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8--%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%86%D9%87%D8%AC-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">part</a> of a collective effort within the Arab Coalition, launching Operation Decisive Storm followed by Operation Restoring Hope to confront Houthi threats. UAE combat aircraft conducted precise <a href="https://www.wam.ae/ar/article/hszcth8m-%D8%B6%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">airstrikes</a> on Houthi-controlled positions and ranked among the coalition’s most active contributors.UAE-led operations played a decisive role in restoring <a href="https://www.skynewsarabia.com/middle-east/1843659-11-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%84" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">control over</a> Aden and involved dozens of major combat <a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/ar/policy-analysis/albr-almstqat-mn-hrb-alamarat-fy-alymn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">operations</a>, including complex urban warfare, while adhering to international humanitarian law and civilian protection standards. The UAE played a leading role in supporting and coordinating ground operations against Houthi militia, achieving additional victories in southern Yemen and reclaiming significant territory along the western coast. These efforts effectively halted Houthi territorial expansion following their takeover of the capital, Sana’a.2- Leading Military and Security Efforts Against Al-Qaeda: Since 2015, the UAE has led intensive military and security campaigns against Al-Qaeda in southern Yemen, focusing on Hadramawt, Shabwa, and Abyan. The UAE <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/ar/sada/2017/10/the-uaes-war-aims-in-yemen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supported</a> local partners in defeating Al-Qaeda, <a href="https://jp.reuters.com/article/world/--idUSKBN1IC1J7/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">trained</a> Yemeni units that successfully reclaimed the strategic port city of Al Mukalla, and <a href="https://www.swissinfo.ch/ara/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A4%D9%83%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86/44319516" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contributed</a> to reducing attacks by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) from 77 in the first half of 2016 to just five in the first half of 2018.The UAE trained and equipped approximately 60,000 Yemeni personnel, with nearly half actively participating in operations against Al-Qaeda. This experience <a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/ar/policy-analysis/albr-almstqat-mn-hrb-alamarat-fy-alymn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">demonstrated</a> the UAE’s capability as a regional security partner, coordinating effectively between Arab, international, and local forces. Culturally aware personnel provided operational leadership, facilitated intelligence-sharing, and supported international counterterrorism efforts.3- Countering Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Plots: Consistent with its stance against the Muslim Brotherhood, the UAE countered attempts by the Yemeni Congregation for Reform Party (the Brotherhood’s political arm in Yemen) to <a href="https://alarab.co.uk/%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%81%D8%B4%D9%84%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">undermine</a> counterterrorism operations. Reports highlighted cooperation between the party and Al-Qaeda in opposing southern forces and using controlled areas as staging points for attacks. The UAE actively countered these plots while maintaining consistent operational pressure on extremist networks.4- Securing Yemen’s Maritime Routes: The Houthi militia posed repeated threats to maritime security in the Red Sea, which escalated following the Gaza war amid Iran–Israel tensions. The UAE played a <a href="https://al-ain.com/article/uae-secure-red-sea#:~:text=%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B7%20%D8%B5%D8%AF,%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%8C%20%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leading role</a> in protecting strategic maritime corridors, particularly the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, ensuring safe navigation and safeguarding trade routes. UAE <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-world/how-the-uaes-maritime-infrastructure-protects-red-sea-energy-shipping-and-us-goals" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">efforts</a> blocked Houthi access to coastal launch points, limited their ability to target oil tankers, secured the port city of Aden, and expelled Al-Qaeda from Al Mukalla, strengthening coastal security.5- Providing Relief to Populations in Liberated Areas: The UAE has been a major supporter of the Yemeni population, delivering billions of dollars in development and humanitarian aid since 2015 to strengthen infrastructure and stabilize essential sectors such as healthcare and education, primarily through the Emirates Red Crescent. From April 2015 to June 2019, the UAE <a href="https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2020-02-09-1.3773669" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contributed approximately</a> AED 20.57 billion, benefiting millions of Yemenis across 22 governorates.The UAE Armed Forces ensured safe delivery of humanitarian aid to conflict zones, evacuated thousands of war casualties, and covered medical treatment costs abroad for some individuals. The UAE also coordinated aid through international organizations, including the United Nations, and actively participated in donor <a href="https://www.mofa.gov.ae/ar-ae/mediahub/news/2023/2/27/27-02-2023-uae" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conferences</a> for Yemen.Sustained Security ImpactOver the years, the UAE has played a decisive role in limiting the territorial presence of extremist groups in Yemen. Its operations curtailed their operational capabilities, reduced attacks, and helped normalize daily life in liberated areas through humanitarian and developmental projects. Even after concluding its direct military and security role, the UAE’s strategic contributions continue to impact Yemen by securing liberated territories, enhancing local security capacities, and training Yemeni forces to confront extremist and terrorist threats effectively.

The UAE’s Role in Combating Extremist Groups in Yemen