The United Arab Emirates clarified Friday that its role in the war in Yemen is not over, contrary to a statement made the day before that was allegedly taken out of context.
The crown prince of Abu Dhabi had posted a statement from the state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, on his official twitter that the war in Yemen is over for its troops after being a key ally in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels for over a year.
An Arabic version of the statement, however, read that the war is only "practically" over.
Gargash told state media Friday that the statement was taken out of context and is far from true.
"We are at war. I am appalled that my statement was taken out of context and misinterpreted for external agenda that seek to undermine the region and the GCC in particular," he told state-run WAM news agency.
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan also serves as deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.
Though Houthi rebels have been pushed out of Yemen's southern cities where President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi set up base on his return from exile, most of the northern and central highlands and the Red Sea coast are still controlled by rebels.
The Saudi-led and U.S.-backed coalition, made up mainly of Gulf nations, has been launching airstrikes against the rebels since March of 2015, part of an increasingly assertive military policy by the Saudis and the UAE.