In a dramatic escalation of long-simmering tensions, Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on the Yemeni port city of Mukalla this week. The kingdom stated the attack targeted a shipment of weapons and military vehicles that had arrived from the United Arab Emirates for forces loyal to the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The Strike and Its Alleged Justification
The Saudi military, in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, said the operation took place on Tuesday. It claimed that two vessels had arrived in Mukalla from Fujairah, a port on the UAE's eastern coast, on Sunday, 22 December. The statement alleged the ships' crews disabled tracking devices and unloaded "a large amount of weapons and combat vehicles" to bolster the STC.
"Considering that the aforementioned weapons constitute an imminent threat... the Coalition Air Force has conducted this morning a limited airstrike," the Saudi announcement read. It emphasised the strike was conducted overnight to avoid collateral damage, though immediate casualty figures were unclear.
The UAE, a nominal Saudi ally in the war against Yemen's Houthi rebels, did not immediately acknowledge or comment on the strike. Analysts identified one of the targeted vessels as the Greenland, a roll-on, roll-off ship. Footage aired by Saudi state TV and circulated on social media appeared to show new armoured vehicles moving through Mukalla following the ship's arrival.
Deepening Rifts in a Fractured Coalition
This attack signals a severe rupture between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, who have backed competing factions within the anti-Houthi coalition for years. The STC, which seeks the revival of an independent South Yemen, is a primary UAE proxy. In recent days, its forces had seized control of Yemen's Hadramout governorate, where Mukalla is located, pushing out the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces.
Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert, predicted a "calibrated escalation" from both sides. "The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council is likely to respond by consolidating control," he said, while noting that Saudi control of Yemeni airspace would likely curb future weapons flows.
The Mukalla strike follows warning airstrikes by Saudi Arabia against the STC last Friday, intended to halt their advance in Hadramout and Mahra. The separatists' actions, including public rallies where the flag of the former South Yemen is waved, have piled significant pressure on the Saudi-Emirati relationship.
Broader Implications for Regional Stability
This incident exposes the fragile and competing interests at play in Yemen's decade-long war, even among ostensible partners. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are close allies and fellow members of the OPEC oil cartel, yet they have increasingly competed for influence across the region. The open military action by one against the other's allies marks a dangerous new phase.
The port city of Mukalla lies 480km north-east of Aden, the temporary seat of Yemen's internationally recognised government. The escalation between the two Gulf powers threatens to further fragment the anti-Houthi front, potentially undermining any future peace process and adding another layer of complexity to the already volatile security situation in the Red Sea region.
