Saudi Arabia's state news agency today cited a military announcement stating that two ships from Fujairah, a city on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), arrived at Yemen's Mukalla port last week.
The crew reportedly turned off navigation equipment and unloaded a significant quantity of weapons and combat vehicles, intended to support the Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist forces.
An announcement stated, "Considering the equipment posed an immediate threat and constituted an escalating action that jeopardized peace and stability, the coalition air force this morning conducted a limited airstrike targeting the weapons and military vehicles unloaded from the two ships in Mukalla."
Video released by Saudi television, seemingly filmed from a reconnaissance aircraft, showed a convoy of vehicles moving from Mukalla port to a staging area.
It remains unclear if there were casualties or if any other nations participated in the strike alongside Saudi Arabia. Riyadh emphasized the attack was launched at dawn to ensure no unintended damage occurred.
The port city of Mukalla is located in Hadramout province, an area recently brought under STC control. Mukalla lies approximately 480 km northeast of Aden. Aden has served as the power center for anti-Houthi forces in Yemen since the Houthi group captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The Mukalla airstrike follows an alleged Saudi attack on STC targets on 26/12. Observers suggest this move aims to pressure the armed group to cease its advances and withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra provinces. The STC had previously repelled forces linked to the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, part of the anti-Houthi coalition, from these two provinces.
STC forces have recently become more overt in flying the flag of South Yemen, which was an independent nation from 1967 to 1990. Protests have occurred over the past few days, demonstrating support for political factions seeking South Yemen's renewed separation from Yemen.
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Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen (red) and the two provinces of Hadramout and Mahra. *Graphics: FT* |
The separatist actions are impacting relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While the two nations maintain close ties and are both members of the OPEC oil alliance, they have been competing for influence in recent years.
On 30/12, the Saudi Foreign Ministry for the first time directly linked the UAE to the STC's recent offensive, asserting Abu Dhabi's actions were "very dangerous". The internationally recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government declared a state of emergency, ended cooperation with the UAE, and demanded all UAE forces leave Yemen within 24 hours.
Pham Giang (According to AP)
