RIYADH 

Saudi Arabia voiced hope Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours after a deadline set by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council.

In a meeting chaired by King Salman, the Saudi Cabinet said the UAE withdrawal will help ease tensions and prevent further escalation in the country.

It regretted that the de-escalation efforts led by Saudi Arabia were met with “unjustified escalation that contradicts the principles on which the coalition was founded and undermines its mission to achieve security and stability in Yemen and runs counter to the assurances received from the UAE.”

The cabinet expressed hope that "wisdom will prevail, and the principles of brotherhood and good neighborliness will be upheld, along with the close relations that unite the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the interests of Yemen."

It stressed that the kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures “to confront any threat to its national security,” reiterating commitment to Yemen’s security, stability and sovereignty.

Yemen’s presidential council chairman Rashad al-Alimi cancelled a joint defense pact with the UAE early Tuesday and gave a 24-hour deadline for the UAE forces to withdraw. He also declared a 90-day state of emergency and a 72-hour air and land ban on all ports and border crossings.

The move came shortly after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched a "limited" airstrike targeting two ships linked to the UAE at the Mukalla port in Yemen.

The attack came amid rising tensions since the Southern Transitional Council (STC) captured the eastern provinces of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra early this month after clashes with government forces.