On Monday, the US rejected a proposal by the UAE to militarize the Yemeni side of Bab Al-Mandeb in return for supporting factions loyal to it in southern Yemen.
Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
In response, the US sent its Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, to visit the American military base on the Djiboutian side of Bab Al-Mandeb.
Austin appeared in a video published by the US Department of State on its official social media page, talking about the efforts of American soldiers in securing navigation and regional security.
The US response came on the eve of reports of an Emirati attempt to strike a deal with Washington to support its factions calling for the secession of southern Yemen and those opposed to Saudi Arabia.
According to sources, Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, the head of the Transitional Council, met with US military officials during his current visit to New York in coordination with the UAE, and he offered them to secure the American military presence at Bab Al-Mandeb in return for supporting his demands against Saudi Arabia.
Recently, the US announced an enhancement of its military deployment in the Red Sea.
The motives for America’s rejection to deploy to the Yemeni side are not yet clear, and it remains uncertain whether they reflect concerns about attacks from Sana’a or an attempt to avoid engaging in a proxy battle in favor of the UAE against Saudi Arabia.
It is worth mentioning that the UAE is currently exerting all its efforts to obtain American support to confront Saudi Arabia in southern Yemen.
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