What's happened
On December 30, 2025, Saudi-led coalition forces struck weapons and vehicles unloaded from two UAE ships at Mukalla port, Yemen, targeting arms allegedly destined for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). The Yemeni government canceled its defense pact with the UAE and ordered Emirati forces to withdraw within 24 hours, escalating tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi amid the ongoing Yemeni conflict.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Rift in the Saudi-UAE Coalition
The airstrike on Mukalla port marks a significant escalation in the fractious relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates within Yemen's multifaceted conflict. While both countries initially allied against the Houthi movement, diverging interests have surfaced, with the UAE backing the separatist STC and Saudi Arabia supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government.
Implications for Yemen's Stability
The strike and subsequent cancellation of the defense pact signal Riyadh's intolerance for the STC's unilateral military advances, which threaten to fracture Yemen further. The UAE's alleged covert arms shipments to the STC undermine coalition unity and complicate peace efforts.
Regional Power Dynamics
This confrontation exposes broader regional rivalries, with Saudi Arabia asserting its red line on national security and the UAE pursuing influence through proxy forces. The move to expel Emirati troops within 24 hours could destabilize coalition operations and embolden the STC.
Forecast
The conflict will likely deepen as Saudi Arabia seeks to reassert control over eastern Yemen, potentially leading to intensified military engagements. Diplomatic efforts, including calls for restraint by the US, face challenges amid rising mistrust. Yemen's fragmentation risks prolonging humanitarian crises and regional instability.
What the papers say
The New York Times reported Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki's statement that two UAE ships entered Mukalla port without coalition authorization, unloading weapons for the STC, prompting a limited Saudi airstrike. The Independent's Maroosha Muzaffar highlighted the growing rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, noting Saudi warnings that UAE support for the STC threatens regional security. Al Jazeera emphasized the coalition's claim of no casualties and adherence to international law during the strike, while Arab News detailed the coalition's justification citing UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and the Yemeni government's request for intervention. France 24 provided visual evidence of the targeted vehicles and noted the UAE's denial of supplying arms to separatists. The New Arab and Reuters underscored the STC's recent territorial gains and Saudi Arabia's demand for their withdrawal, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging restraint and diplomacy. These sources collectively illustrate a complex, escalating conflict with competing narratives on legitimacy and regional influence.
How we got here
Yemen's civil war involves multiple factions, including the Iran-aligned Houthis and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group seeking southern independence. The Saudi-led coalition supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, opposing the STC's recent territorial advances in Hadramaut and Al-Mahra provinces, which have intensified intra-coalition tensions.
Go deeper
- What is the Southern Transitional Council and its role in Yemen?
- How has the Saudi-UAE alliance changed during the Yemen conflict?
- What are the implications of the UAE troop withdrawal from Yemen?
Common question
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Why Did Yemen's Port Strike Escalate Regional Tensions?
Recent military actions at Yemen's ports have sparked significant concern across the Middle East. The targeting of unloaded weapons and the involvement of ships from the UAE have raised fears of wider conflict. Many are asking what led to this escalation, what it means for regional stability, and how it might affect ongoing Yemen conflicts. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this tense situation.
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Why is the Yemen port strike causing regional tensions?
The recent attack on Yemen's port has sparked significant regional tensions, involving major players like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This escalation is part of a broader conflict over influence and control in Yemen, with implications that reach far beyond the region. Curious about what’s driving this conflict and what it means for global security? Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this tense situation.
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Could the Yemen port strike lead to a wider regional war?
The recent escalation at Yemen's Mukalla port, involving attacks by the Saudi-led coalition and the unloading of weapons by UAE ships, has raised serious concerns about regional stability. With tensions running high between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, many are asking whether this conflict could spill over into a broader regional war. Understanding the current situation, diplomatic options, and responses from neighboring countries is crucial to grasp what might come next in this complex conflict.
More on these topics
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The Southern Transitional Council is a secessionist organization in Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers.
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Mukalla is a seaport and the capital city of Yemen's largest governorate, Hadhramaut. The city is in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the Gulf of Aden, on the shores of the Arabian Sea, about 480 kilometres east of Aden.