In a striking escalation of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the port city of Mukalla on December 29, 2025, citing concerns over a shipment of weapons that had arrived from the United Arab Emirates.
According to reporting by AP News, the Saudi military announced the operation as a targeted response to arms believed to be destined for separatist forces within Yemen’s increasingly fragmented civil war.
The Saudi-led coalition framed the strikes as a defensive and carefully planned action.
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In a statement released through the Saudi Press Agency, the military said the “Coalition Air Forces conducted a limited military operation this morning targeting weapons and combat vehicles unloaded from the two ships at the port,” emphasizing that the attack was conducted overnight “to ensure no collateral damage occurred.” Officials claimed the operation was narrowly focused on military hardware rather than civilian infrastructure.
Saudi authorities identified two ships that had arrived in Mukalla after departing from the Emirati port of Fujairah. One of the vessels, a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship, was reportedly observed unloading equipment shortly after docking.
Yemen analysts cited imagery and videos circulating online that appeared to show new armored vehicles moving through Mukalla following the ship’s arrival, reinforcing Saudi claims that the cargo included military assets.
The strikes underscore growing friction between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, longtime allies in the Yemen conflict. The weapons were allegedly intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a powerful separatist group backed by the UAE.
The STC has sought to reestablish an independent southern Yemeni state and has recently expanded its control across parts of Hadramout governorate — a move Saudi officials view as destabilizing and contrary to their strategic objectives.
This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has acted against the STC. Previous airstrikes were interpreted as warnings aimed at halting the group’s territorial expansion, particularly after STC-aligned forces expelled Saudi-backed units and raised the flag of the former South Yemen.
Public demonstrations supporting southern secession have since intensified, highlighting the deep divisions that persist within Yemen nearly a decade into the war.
The United Arab Emirates did not issue an immediate response to the Saudi allegations, nor did it confirm or deny involvement in the weapons shipment. Analysts note that the incident reflects broader regional rivalries, where partnerships are increasingly strained by competing ambitions, even among nations that once appeared firmly aligned.
