Emirati forces withdraw from Al-Alam base in Yemen's Shabwa

Emirati forces withdrew from the key Al-Alam base in southeast Yemen on Tuesday morning after local calls for them to leave, The New Arab's sister publication has reported.

The Emirati forces left the base in Shabwa Governorate, southeast Yemen at dawn, local military sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Yemeni coalition soldiers will guard the camp until it is handed over to Saudi forces, a security source in Shabwa said.

Shabwa has seen an escalation in fighting in recent weeks.

Tensions had been brewing in the area as local authorities accused the Emiratis of training forces to overthrow them.

Despite the acrimony, all parties involved have agreed to the base transfer, the sources said.

The Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen's war in 2015 to prop up the government.

Houthi rebels have in recent weeks stepped up their push to take the strategic city of Marib.

The coalition says it has killed hundreds of Houthis in airstrikes on Marib since.

The increased violence in parts of Yemen has had a devastating impact on civilians, the UN has warned.