Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port city of Mukalla over weapons shipment from UAE for separatists

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 -Saudi Arabia has launched a significant airstrike on the Yemeni port city of Mukalla, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. Riyadh says the strike targeted a shipment of weapons and combat vehicles that it claims were delivered from the United Arab Emirates to support the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council separatist force in southern Yemen. 

Saudi officials described the shipment as a direct threat to security and stability and said military action was necessary to neutralize it.

The bombing has deepened an already complex rift within the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, once close partners in the campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, are now clashing over influence and strategy in the south. 

In response to the attack, the UAE announced it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen and denied sending weapons to separatists, insisting the equipment was intended only for its own troops. Yemeni authorities aligned with Riyadh declared a state of emergency and imposed temporary blockades around the port.

The strikes have drawn sharp reactions from local actors, with separatist groups rejecting calls to withdraw and pledging to maintain control of key areas. 

International observers warn the incident could further destabilize Yemen, disrupt critical port operations in Mukalla, and strain relations between Gulf states that have worked together for years. As tensions rise, the episode highlights how Yemen’s conflict continues to evolve into broader regional power struggles with serious security implications.