Saudi Arabia has released details of a coalition airstrike on Yemen’s southern port of Mukalla, intensifying tensions with the United Arab Emirates and prompting Abu Dhabi to announce the withdrawal of its forces. Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki shared images showing that two ships at Mukalla carried over 80 vehicles and containers of weapons and ammunition. He added that UAE personnel had transferred equipment to the al-Rayyan base without notifying Riyadh.
The UAE said it will end its “counterterrorism” operations in Yemen after Saudi Arabia accused it of backing the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which recently launched offensives in Hadramout and Mahara provinces. These moves, Riyadh said, threaten its national security, as eastern Yemen borders Saudi Arabia and hosts strategic ports and oil resources.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government demanded the UAE withdraw its troops within 24 hours, a call supported by Saudi Arabia. In response, Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, dissolved a defence pact with the UAE. The STC, defiant over its newly seized southern territories, vowed to resist any attempt to dislodge its forces.
Saudi Arabia stressed that threats to its security are a red line, signaling readiness to take necessary measures. Analysts say Riyadh’s actions reflect its view of eastern Yemen as vital for national security and energy resilience. Meanwhile, the UAE maintains that its shipments were intended for its forces and expressed willingness to coordinate to avoid further escalation. Qatar and other Gulf states welcomed dialogue and reaffirmed the importance of GCC unity.
