Airstrikes Target UAE Ships at Yemen’s Mukalla Port Amid Rising Tensions
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the port of Al Mukalla in Yemen, targeting Emirati ships allegedly carrying weapons to a southern separatist group. The operation marks a new escalation in tensions among coalition allies in Yemen.
According to Saudi state media, the weapons shipment arrived from the UAE’s Fujairah port on two vessels and was being offloaded in support of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC, which was part of the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in 2015, later launched a campaign for the autonomy of southern Yemen. Recently, the southern Yemeni flag has been raised in the region, with protests calling for independence.
The statement said the ships disabled their tracking systems after reaching Al Mukalla and offloaded heavy weapons and military vehicles, considered an immediate threat to peace and stability. In response, coalition forces conducted limited night airstrikes to neutralize the weapons and vehicles, reportedly minimizing the risk of casualties. No loss of life has been reported.
The UAE has not issued an official response yet, while a satellite channel run by the STC confirmed the strike without providing further details.
BIG: Saudi airstrikes hit Yemen’s Mukalla Port, targeting ships from the UAE carrying armored vehicles and weapons for UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists.
Tensions between Saudi-backed and UAE-backed forces have escalated sharply after pro-UAE forces… pic.twitter.com/ExPP78VVTz
— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 30, 2025
According to the UK-based Guardian, one of the targeted ships was a roll-on/roll-off vessel named Greenland, registered under the flag of St. Kitts. Tracking data showed the vessel was in Fujairah on December 22 and arrived in Al Mukalla on Sunday. Social media footage shows what appears to be newly arrived armored vehicles at the port.
Yemen expert Mohammed Al-Basha warned that limited but measured tensions between the parties could escalate. The airstrikes may disrupt weapon deliveries from the UAE to the STC, particularly since Saudi Arabia controls the airspace.
Al Mukalla, located in Hadramawt province, recently came under STC control. The city is about 480 km northeast of Aden and has served as a center for anti-Houthi forces since the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014. Saudi airstrikes also targeted STC positions last Friday, sending a warning to separatists to halt advances and retreat from Hadramawt and Al Mahrah.
The incidents have strained Saudi-UAE relations, with Saudi Arabia emphasizing that national security is a red line. Reports indicate that Saudi authorities demanded the withdrawal of UAE forces from Al Mukalla within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced the termination of the defense agreement with the UAE, accusing it of fueling internal tensions and supporting the STC against state authority. The STC, however, rejected Saudi demands, intensifying the complex dynamics in southern Yemen.
