A Saudi-led military coalition has carried out airstrikes on a key port in southern Yemen, saying it destroyed an unauthorized weapons shipment allegedly destined for UAE-backed separatist forces.
In a statement published by Saudi state media, the ‘Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen’ said it targeted military equipment unloaded at Mukalla port in Hadramout province after two vessels arrived from the UAE without approval from Yemen’s internationally recognised authorities.
The coalition claimed the ships departed from the UAE port of Fujairah, switched off their tracking systems, and delivered weapons and combat vehicles intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group pushing for self-rule in southern Yemen. According to the statement, the strike was conducted early Tuesday at the request of Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi and resulted in no civilian casualties or damage to port infrastructure.
The STC, once aligned with the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi movement, has since emerged as a rival power centre in the south and now controls large areas under a fragile power-sharing arrangement. The Houthis continue to dominate northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, after forcing the Saudi-backed government to relocate south.
#Statement | Pursuant to the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25/12/2025 corresponding to 5/7/1447 regarding the Kingdom’s concerted efforts, working with the brotherly United Arab Emirates, to end and contain the escalatory steps taken by the Southern… pic.twitter.com/lTyU0gLgpf
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 30, 2025
Following the strike, Alimi declared a 90-day state of emergency, imposed a temporary nationwide blockade, and scrapped a security agreement with the UAE. In a televised address, he ordered STC forces to withdraw from seized territories and demanded the departure of UAE troops from Yemen within 24 hours, describing the separatist advance as an “unacceptable rebellion.”
Saudi Arabia warned that UAE support for the separatists threatens regional security, while Abu Dhabi’s foreign ministry has yet to comment publicly on the incident.
💥The Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition has launched a military operation in Yemen’s eastern #Hadramawt province.
The move came after the port of Al-Mukalla was seized by forces of #Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, according to the SPA news agency.
The port came under… pic.twitter.com/QlPVMeSj5g
— News.Az (@news_az) December 30, 2025
“‘Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen’ ”
More like the coalition to restore submisssion in Yemen.
As I was strolling through a market place in Morocco some years back I paused to look at a curved Arabic dagger. The stall holder, hopeful of a sale, sauntered over and explained that the blade is divided and sharpened into two zones, the lower part of the blade is for stabbing friends, the upper (and lower) part of the blade is for stabbing enemies.
This leaves the Houthis stronger https://southfront.press/uae-announces-withdrawal-from-yemen-but-saudi-arabia-keeps-pressure-on/
The so-called “countries” in the middle east did not develop organically as all of the middle eastern borders including Saudi Arabia were set up as puppets by colonial Britain over 100 years ago to keep the region divided. Tensions will therefore continue.