Saudi Arabia has launched a military strike against the Yemeni port city of Mukalla, targeting what it claims was a shipment of weapons from the United Arab Emirates destined for separatist forces. The kingdom issued a stark warning to Abu Dhabi, labelling its actions as "extremely dangerous" and directly linking the UAE to recent advances by the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Airstrike Targets Weapons Offloaded in Mukalla
The Saudi-led coalition confirmed it carried out a "limited airstrike" on Tuesday, 30 December 2025. According to a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the attack targeted weapons and military vehicles that had been unloaded from two vessels in Mukalla. The kingdom asserted the ships had arrived from Fujairah, a port on the UAE's eastern coast, and that their tracking devices had been disabled.
The Saudi military stated it conducted the operation overnight to minimise the risk of collateral damage. It remains unclear if there were any casualties or if other militaries participated in the attack. The UAE did not immediately comment on the allegations, though its state-linked newspaper, The National, reported on the incident.
Escalating Tensions Between Gulf Allies
This strike marks a significant escalation in the complex web of alliances within Yemen's long-running war. While both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are part of the coalition fighting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, they have backed competing factions within the anti-Houthi bloc. The UAE supports the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks independence for South Yemen, while Riyadh backs the internationally recognised government.
The attack followed the STC's recent seizure of Yemen's Hadramout governorate, where Mukalla is located. Just days earlier, on Friday, Saudi airstrikes had targeted the separatists in what analysts saw as a warning to halt their advance. The Mukalla strike came after social media videos, cited by Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha, purported to show new armoured vehicles in the city following a ship's arrival.
Regional Repercussions and a Direct Warning
In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry explicitly connected the STC's advances to Emirati support. "The kingdom notes that the steps taken by the sisterly United Arab Emirates are extremely dangerous," its Tuesday statement declared. This public admonition further strains relations between the two OPEC members, who have also found themselves supporting opposing sides in the conflict in Sudan.
In response to the escalating situation, Yemen's anti-Houthi forces declared a state of emergency and imposed a 72-hour ban on all border crossings, airports, and seaports in territory they control, with exceptions only for Saudi-approved movements.
Analysts warn of a "calibrated escalation." Mohammed al-Basha predicted the UAE-backed STC would likely respond by consolidating its control, while the flow of weapons from the UAE could be curtailed due to Saudi control of Yemen's airspace. The incident underscores the fragile and shifting alliances in the wider Red Sea region, where violence has also intensified in Sudan and Israel's recognition of Somaliland has drawn threats from the Houthis.
