Saudi Arabia on Tuesday bombed the Yemeni port city of Mukalla, alleging that a shipment of weapons meant for a separatist force there had arrived from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Kingdom later claimed there were direct links between the UAE and the recent advances made by Yemen separatists. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry warned Abu Dhabi that its actions are ‘extremely dangerous’.
Describing the UAE as ‘brotherly’, the Saudi ministry further said Abu Dhabi’s actions are inconsistent with the global efforts due to which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen was set up.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its disappointment by the actions taken by the brotherly United Arab Emirates, pressuring the Southern Transitional Council’s forces to conduct military operations on the southern borders of the Kingdom in the governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahara, which is considered a threat to the Kingdom’s national security and the security and stability of the Republic of Yemen and the region,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia said in a statement.
“The steps taken by the UAE are considered highly dangerous, inconsistent with the principles upon which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen was established, and do not serve the coalition’s purpose of achieving security and stability for Yemen,” it added.
Following the military strikes, anti-Houthi forces in Yemen have imposed a state of emergency, the Associated Press reported. They have further imposed a 72-hour ban on all border crossings into territory that is under their control. All entries to airports and seaports have also been barred, except those permitted by Saudi Arabia.
#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.x.com/lTyU0gLgpf
— Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) December 30, 2025
Strain in Saudi Arabia-UAE ties
The development marks a significant escalation in tensions between Saudi Arabia and the separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council, which has the support of the UAE. It further puts a huge strain on relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two Middle East nations that closely align on many issues but also act as independent players on economic matters and regional politics.
It may be noted that Yemen has been involved in a decade-long war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Details on the military strikes
Meanwhile, the Saudi military reportedly said in a statement that the strikes were launched after ships carrying weapons reached Mukalla from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s eastern coast.
“The ships’ crew had the disabled tracking devices aboard the vessels, and unloaded a large amount of weapons and combat vehicles in support of the Southern Transitional Council’s forces,” the military statement said.
“Considering that the aforementioned weapons constitute an imminent threat, and an escalation that threatens peace and stability, the Coalition Air Force has conducted this morning a limited airstrike that targeted weapons and military vehicles offloaded from the two vessels in Mukalla,” it added.
The Saudi military stated that the strikes were conducted overnight to ensure there was “no collateral damage”. It couldn’t be independently confirmed if there were any casualties in the military action.
The UAE has not officially commented so far on the charge as well as military strikes.