S Arabia, UAE vow to back Yemen war despite cracks

DUBAI, Aug 26 (AP): Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pledged on Monday to keep their floundering coalition war against Yemen's Houthi rebels together after an Emirati troop pullout and the rise of the southern separatists they supported.

The joint communique came as the Houthis launched at least six ballistic missiles and two drone attacks into Saudi Arabia, keeping up its pressure on the kingdom as online infighting between the Emirati and Saudi intelligentsia exposed growing cracks between the usually lockstep oil-rich nations.

The statement, carried by both the Emirati and Saudi state news agencies, said both nations' "political, military, relief and development efforts" would continue.

It also said the countries both rejected and condemned the "accusations and defamation campaigns targeting the UAE" since its decision in June to begin withdrawing troops.