Saudi Airstrike Hits Mukalla Port Over Alleged UAE Arms Shipment to Yemen

Saudi Airstrike Hits Yemen's Mukalla Port Over Alleged UAE-Linked Arms Shipment

In a major escalation of regional tensions, Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on the strategic Mukalla port in Yemen on December 30, 2025. The Saudi-led coalition stated it targeted a shipment of weapons and armored vehicles that arrived from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), intended for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Details of the Strike and Saudi Justification

The Saudi Press Agency reported that a "limited military operation" struck cargo unloaded from two ships that had sailed from Fujairah port in the UAE to Mukalla. The coalition claimed the shipment, destined for STC forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces, posed an "imminent threat" to regional security. Officials emphasized the strike was carefully targeted at military cargo, with warnings issued to civilians to minimize harm.

Reactions and Escalating Tensions

The UAE government has not commented on the allegations or the strike. Following the attack, anti-Houthi forces declared a state of emergency in the area, restricting border and port movements except those approved by Saudi authorities.

The incident highlights a deepening rift within the anti-Houthi coalition. Since intervening in Yemen's civil war in 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have supported differing factions:

• Saudi Arabia backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

• The UAE supports the STC, a separatist group seeking an independent South Yemen.

This divergence has led to recent clashes, with Saudi Arabia reportedly striking STC positions prior to the Mukalla attack.

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Broader Implications for the Region

The strike signifies more than a dispute over weapons; it exposes growing geopolitical strains between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, also evident in conflicts like Sudan. This friction threatens the cohesion of the Gulf coalition and complicates international diplomatic efforts to broker peace in Yemen.

As the situation develops, the Mukalla airstrike underscores how Yemen's war is increasingly shaped by competing regional agendas, jeopardizing both the fragile humanitarian situation and prospects for a unified political settlement. The incident marks a dangerous new chapter, with significant implications for Gulf relations and regional stability.