Saudi reveals Yemen strike details as UAE exits
Move follows Riyadh accusing Abu Dhabi of backing Yemeni separatists and bombing an alleged Emirati weapons shipment at Mukalla port.
Saudi Arabia has released detailed information about a coalition airstrike on Yemen’s southern port city of Mukalla, a move that has exposed serious rifts within the Gulf-led coalition and prompted the United Arab Emirates to announce the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen.
The Saudi Arabia-led coalition said the bombing targeted what it described as a shipment of Emirati-linked weapons destined for Yemeni separatist forces, an allegation that has sharply escalated tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, long-time allies in the Yemen war.
Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki on Tuesday presented images and documentation of the operation, which he said was carried out in the early hours of the morning. According to al-Maliki, coalition forces identified two ships at the port of Mukalla carrying more than 80 military vehicles along with containers filled with weapons and ammunition.
He claimed that the materials, along with Emirati personnel, were transferred to Yemen’s al-Rayyan air base without prior coordination or notification to Saudi Arabia. This, he said, represented a serious breach of coalition protocols. Al-Maliki insisted that the airstrike was conducted in line with established rules of engagement and aimed solely at neutralising what Riyadh views as a direct security threat.
The incident quickly triggered diplomatic and military fallout. Shortly after the Saudi announcement, the UAE declared it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen, effectively ending what it described as its “counterterrorism” mission in the country. In a statement, the Emirati Ministry of Defence said the decision was taken voluntarily and in a manner that ensures the safety of its personnel.
Yemen,” the statement said.
The UAE’s decision followed mounting pressure from Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which demanded that Abu Dhabi pull out its forces within 24 hours. Saudi Arabia publicly backed that demand, underlining the growing strain between the two Gulf powers over Yemen’s future.
Hours before the UAE’s announcement, coalition warplanes struck Mukalla, a strategic port in Hadramout province. Saudi officials said the target was a weapons shipment linked to the UAE and intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a powerful separatist group seeking independence for southern Yemen.
The STC was initially aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in the fight against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. However, relations have since deteriorated. Earlier this month, STC forces launched an offensive against government troops, seizing key areas in the south and challenging the authority of the internationally recognised administration.
Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of pressuring and supporting the STC to expand its military operations into Hadramout and Mahara provinces—areas Riyadh considers critical to its own national security. In a strongly worded statement, Saudi authorities said they viewed such moves as crossing a red line.
The dispute has laid bare deep divisions within the coalition that has been fighting in Yemen since 2015. While Saudi Arabia has focused on restoring the internationally recognised government and countering Houthi influence, the UAE has increasingly backed local forces and separatist groups in the south, arguing they are more effective partners in combating extremist organisations.
Mukalla itself holds symbolic and strategic importance. Once a stronghold of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the port city has been a focal point of counterterrorism efforts. Saudi officials argue that any unauthorised transfer of weapons into the area risks destabilising the region further and undermining broader security goals.
The unfolding crisis has drawn reactions from across the Gulf. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the statements from both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, saying they reflected a shared commitment to regional stability and good neighbourly relations. Doha added that resolving differences within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was essential to preserving unity at a time of heightened regional challenges.
Despite the conciliatory tone from Qatar, the episode underscores how fragile alliances in Yemen have become. What began as a unified campaign against the Houthis has evolved into a complex struggle involving competing local actors and diverging regional interests.
For Yemen, already devastated by years of war, the rift raises fresh concerns about further fragmentation. For the Gulf, the Mukalla bombing and the UAE’s withdrawal signal a turning point—one that may reshape both the trajectory of the conflict and the balance of power within the coalition itself.