RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday and discussed developments in the Middle East, including ongoing tensions in Yemen, Saudi and US officials said.
During the telephone conversation, the two top diplomats discussed developments in the region and efforts being made to address the situation, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The US State Department said ongoing tensions in Yemen and regional security were discussed during the phone call.
سمو وزير الخارجية الأمير #فيصل_بن_فرحان @FaisalbinFarhan يجري اتصالاً هاتفياً بمعالي وزير خارجية الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية السيد ماركو روبيو. pic.twitter.com/SzEkDtje3l
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) December 30, 2025
The conversation came soon after the United Arab Emirates announced the withdrawal of its remaining counter-terrorism units from Yemen, after Saudi Arabia called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country within 24 hours.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia expressed strong concern over recent actions by the UAE in Yemen, warning that they posed serious risks to Saudi national security and to the stability of Yemen and the wider region.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to an announcement issued on December 25, 2025, saying the Kingdom had been working closely with the UAE to contain escalating developments in the Yemeni governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahara.
The ministry said the move followed a comprehensive assessment of current conditions and was consistent with the UAE’s broader commitment to regional security and stability.
Abu Dhabi reiterated that the UAE had formally ended its military presence in Yemen in 2019 after completing its agreed missions as part of the Arab Coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Since December 3, STC forces have seized control of parts of Hadramout after clashes with the Hadramout Tribes Alliance and First Military Region troops. Four days later, they extended their presence to Al-Mahra, which had previously been under government control.
The STC argues that successive governments have politically and economically marginalised the southern regions, a claim rejected by Yemeni authorities, who maintain their commitment to Yemen’s territorial unity.
