Saudi Arabia has launched airstrikes on Yemen’s port city of Mukalla, claiming the attack targeted weapons shipments destined for separatist forces backed by the United Arab Emirates, in a major escalation of regional tensions.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi-led coalition and carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the strikes were conducted after intelligence indicated that ships arriving from Fujairah in the UAE unloaded weapons and military vehicles in support of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The Saudi military alleged that the vessels had disabled tracking devices and offloaded a large cache of arms and armored vehicles, describing the shipment as an “imminent threat” to peace and stability in Yemen.
The airstrike reportedly targeted weapons and vehicles shortly after unloading, with Saudi officials claiming the operation was conducted overnight to avoid civilian casualties. No immediate reports of casualties were confirmed.
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The UAE did not immediately respond to the allegations, while STC-affiliated media acknowledged the strikes without providing details.
Analysts identified one of the vessels as a roll-on, roll-off ship named Greenland, which tracking data showed had traveled from Fujairah to Mukalla in late December. Social media footage appeared to show armored vehicles moving through the city after the ship’s arrival.
Mukalla, located in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate, has recently seen increased STC activity after separatist forces pushed out Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, intensifying friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Experts warn the strike signals a widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, long-time allies in Yemen’s conflict against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The development comes amid broader instability across the Red Sea region, including escalating violence in Sudan and renewed Houthi threats linked to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
The situation has raised concerns about further fragmentation in Yemen’s decade-long war, as competing regional interests increasingly clash over territory, influence, and political control.
