Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen’s eastern port city of Mukalla after claiming it intercepted a weapons shipment allegedly sent by the United Arab Emirates to southern Yemeni separatists, sharply escalating regional tensions.
The airstrikes targeted facilities near Mukalla’s port, which Saudi officials said were being used to unload arms destined for the Southern Transitional Council, a powerful UAE-backed separatist movement.
Riyadh described the shipment as an imminent security threat, arguing that the delivery undermined stability and violated understandings within the anti-Houthi coalition operating in Yemen.
The United Arab Emirates swiftly rejected the accusation, expressing surprise at the Saudi action and insisting the shipment contained no weapons intended for Yemeni factions.
Abu Dhabi said the cargo was meant for UAE forces operating in the region and called for restraint, urging all parties to manage disagreements responsibly to avoid further escalation.
The strikes come amid growing friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, longtime allies whose competing interests in Yemen have increasingly come into the open.
Although both countries oppose the Iran-backed Houthi movement, they support rival local actors and have pursued diverging political and military strategies inside Yemen.
Saudi Arabia primarily backs the internationally recognised Yemeni government and allied tribal forces, while the UAE has invested heavily in southern militias, including the STC.
The Southern Transitional Council seeks to restore an independent South Yemen, which existed as a separate state until unification with the north in 1990.
In recent months, the STC has made rapid territorial gains across southern Yemen, seizing control of strategic ports, oil facilities, and islands.
These advances have come partly at the expense of Saudi-backed forces, unsettling Riyadh and altering the balance of power within the anti-Houthi alliance.
In November, STC fighters took over key districts, consolidating their authority in much of southern Yemen and stunning Saudi officials.
Saudi troops subsequently withdrew from some positions in Aden after STC forces seized the presidential palace, a move Riyadh described as a military repositioning.
Analysts say the Mukalla airstrikes reflect Saudi frustration with what it views as unchecked UAE influence and separatist expansion in Yemen.
Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut governorate, has emerged as a strategic flashpoint due to its port facilities and proximity to vital shipping routes.
Saudi state media said intelligence indicated that ships arriving from Fujairah, a major UAE port, had disabled tracking devices before unloading military hardware.
The Saudi-led coalition claimed it conducted limited, precise airstrikes overnight to avoid civilian casualties and prevent collateral damage.
It remains unclear whether there were casualties or whether other coalition partners participated in the operation.
The STC acknowledged the strikes through its media outlets but did not provide further details about damage or losses.
Mohammed Abdul Malik al-Zubaidi, head of the STC, condemned the attack, calling it a blatant assault on Hadhramaut and its population.
He rejected Saudi-backed government orders demanding the withdrawal of separatist forces from newly captured territories.
Following the strikes, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, chaired by Saudi-aligned Rashad al-Alimi, announced sweeping retaliatory measures.
Al-Alimi ordered all UAE military forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours and declared a 90-day state of emergency.
He also announced a temporary blockade of all land and sea ports and cancelled a joint defence agreement with Abu Dhabi.
Accusing the UAE and the STC of undermining Yemeni sovereignty, Al-Alimi instructed Saudi-backed forces to reclaim positions held by separatists.
The STC refused to comply, raising fears of direct clashes between rival anti-Houthi factions.
Observers warn that infighting among Saudi- and UAE-backed groups could significantly weaken efforts against the Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen.
The Houthis remain the most powerful force in the country, governing the capital Sana’a and the most densely populated regions.
As many as 20,000 Saudi-backed troops have reportedly gathered near Yemen’s borders amid fears of a wider confrontation.
The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the renewed escalation, warning of severe consequences for regional security.
UN Secretary General António Guterres cautioned that a return to full-scale conflict could destabilise the Red Sea and disrupt global shipping lanes.
Yemen’s war, now in its second decade, has killed an estimated 377,000 people and plunged millions into hunger and displacement.
Nearly half of the population faces acute food insecurity, according to UN agencies, making any escalation particularly devastating.
Analysts suggest Saudi Arabia’s control of Yemeni airspace may limit future weapons flows to separatist forces.
However, they also warn that the STC’s entrenched position and strong local support make it difficult to dislodge militarily.
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Footage aired by Saudi television purported to show armoured vehicles moving inland from Mukalla after the ships’ arrival.
Independent analysts linked one vessel to Dubai-based owners, though confirmation remains elusive.
The crisis underscores the fragile nature of Saudi-UAE relations, despite cooperation within Opec and shared regional interests.
Beyond Yemen, tensions have also surfaced over Sudan, Somaliland, and broader Red Sea influence.
For now, Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen at a moment when alliances are fraying, raising fears that internal rivalries may prolong one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
