Saudi Arabia Targets Mukalla Amid Dispute Over Alleged UAE Arms Shipment

The UAE rejected the accusation, saying it was taken aback by the Saudi strike and insisting that the shipment did not include weapons. According to Abu Dhabi, the cargo was intended for Emirati forces rather than any Yemeni faction. The UAE called for restraint and urged all parties to handle the situation responsibly to prevent further escalation.

The bombing occurred amid growing friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, following unexpected territorial advances by the STC that reportedly caught Saudi Arabia off guard.

Although both Saudi Arabia and the UAE oppose the Iran-aligned Houthi movement—which controls much of Yemen’s population centers—they support rival groups on the ground and increasingly compete for influence in areas under their control.

The UAE has long backed the STC and other allied militias, while Saudi Arabia supports forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government, including the Hadhramout Tribal Alliance.

In November, the STC—an alliance of southern tribes seeking independence for southern Yemen—seized control of several strategic locations across the south. These gains often came at the expense of Saudi-backed units, leaving UAE-supported forces dominant across much of southern Yemen, including vital ports, oil infrastructure, and islands.

After STC fighters captured the presidential palace in Aden, Saudi troops withdrew from their positions there, describing the move as part of a broader military redeployment.

The airstrikes signal Saudi dissatisfaction with the UAE’s actions in Yemen and are expected to further strain relations between the two Gulf powers, particularly as rivalry intensifies in the Red Sea region. Saudi demands for the STC to pull back from newly captured territory have so far gone unheeded.

Following Tuesday’s strike, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman, Rashad al-Alimi—who is aligned with Saudi Arabia—announced a series of emergency measures. These included ordering all UAE military forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours, declaring a 90-day state of emergency, and imposing a 72-hour closure of all land and sea ports.

Al-Alimi also revoked a joint defence agreement with the UAE, accusing Abu Dhabi and the STC of attempting to weaken state authority. He instructed Saudi-backed forces to take over areas currently held by the STC.

STC leader Mohammed Abdul Malik al-Zubaidi rejected the withdrawal order, denouncing the Mukalla strike as an outright assault on Hadhramout and its residents.

Analysts note that the STC and other UAE-backed factions are among the most militarily capable forces opposing the Houthis, raising questions about how far Saudi Arabia is prepared to go in confronting them. Reports suggest that up to 20,000 Saudi-aligned troops have assembled near Yemen’s border.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a return to full-scale conflict could destabilise the entire Red Sea region and urged all sides to de-escalate. According to the UN, Yemen’s war has killed roughly 377,000 people, while nearly half the population faces severe food insecurity.

A Saudi military statement released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency said the strikes followed the arrival of ships from Fujairah, a UAE port city. The statement alleged that the vessels had disabled tracking systems and unloaded large quantities of weapons and military vehicles for the STC.

Saudi officials said the airstrikes were limited and conducted overnight to minimise civilian harm. It remains unclear whether there were casualties or whether other forces participated in the operation.

The STC’s AIC satellite channel confirmed that strikes took place but offered no additional details.

Analysts believe the target may have been a roll-on, roll-off ship identified as the Greenland, registered in St Kitts. Tracking data shows the vessel departed Fujairah on 22 December and arrived in Mukalla on Sunday. A second ship mentioned by Saudi authorities has not yet been identified.

Yemen analyst Mohammed al-Basha cited social media footage appearing to show newly delivered armoured vehicles moving through Mukalla following the ship’s arrival. The vessel’s Dubai-based owners could not be reached for comment.

Al-Basha predicted a measured escalation, suggesting the STC would likely consolidate its control while Saudi Arabia restricts future weapons flows by maintaining dominance over Yemeni airspace.

Saudi state television later aired surveillance footage purportedly showing armoured vehicles being transported to a staging area near Mukalla, matching images circulated online.

Mukalla lies in Hadhramout governorate, recently seized by the STC. The city is located roughly 480 kilometres northeast of Aden, which has served as the base of anti-Houthi authorities since the rebels captured Sana’a in 2014.

The Mukalla strike followed earlier Saudi air attacks on STC positions on Friday, which analysts described as a warning to halt the group’s advance into Hadhramout and Mahra. STC forces had expelled fighters affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces from those areas.

Supporters of the STC have increasingly displayed the flag of former South Yemen, which existed as an independent state between 1967 and 1990. Pro-independence demonstrations have continued for days, calling for renewed secession.

These developments have placed additional strain on Saudi-UAE relations. While the two countries remain close partners and fellow Opec members, they have increasingly competed for regional influence and global economic standing.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly been angered by UAE support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, accused of committing mass atrocities in El Fasher. The two countries also disagree over Somaliland, where the UAE maintains a military presence.

Notably, the UAE declined to join Saudi Arabia and other nations in condemning Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland.