DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on Yemen's port city of Mukalla, claiming the attacks were in response to a shipment of weapons for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist forces, which are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has yet to issue a statement regarding the bombings.
This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the STC, which has reportedly received support from the UAE. The situation further complicates the dynamics within Yemen's protracted conflict against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Additionally, the incident adds pressure to the already strained relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as both nations have backed rival factions in Yemen's ongoing struggle.
The Saudi Arabia military, in a statement released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, indicated that the strikes were conducted after ships arriving from Fujairah—a port city on the UAE's eastern coast—unloaded a significant amount of weaponry and military vehicles intended for the STC forces. The statement elaborated that the crew of the vessels was found to have disabled tracking devices onboard, raising concerns about the imminent threat posed by the consignment.
The military emphasized that the airstrikes aimed to neutralize what it described as an “imminent threat” to peace and stability, asserting that the operations targeted military assets offloaded from these vessels in Mukalla. The timing of the strikes, executed overnight to minimize collateral damage, remains unclear, particularly regarding potential casualties or involvement from any military forces other than Saudi Arabia’s.
The attack likely targeted a roll-on, roll-off vessel known as the Greenland, which is registered under the flag of St. Kitts. Tracking data indicated that this vessel had been present in Fujairah on December 22 and subsequently arrived in Mukalla on Sunday. However, the identity of a second vessel involved in the same shipment could not be determined immediately.
Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha noted that social media footage purportedly showed newly arrived armored vehicles on the streets of Mukalla following the ship's docking. The owners of the vessel, based in Dubai, have not yet responded to inquiries about the cargo. Al-Basha predicts that the STC will respond to the airstrikes by attempting to consolidate its control over the region, while also highlighting the likelihood of a reduced flow of arms from the UAE following this military action, especially since Saudi Arabia manages the airspace over Yemen.
Mukalla is located in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate, an area that the STC has reportedly gained control over recently. This port city is approximately 480 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of Aden, which has been the central hub for anti-Houthi forces since the rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The recent airstrikes in Mukalla follow another wave of airstrikes against the Southern Transitional Council that occurred on Friday, which analysts saw as a warning for the separatists to withdraw from Hadramout and Mahra governorates.
The STC had recently expelled forces aligned with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces from these territories. The separatists have increasingly embraced the symbolism of South Yemen's historical independence, which lasted from 1967 to 1990, provoking public demonstrations advocating for the region's independence once again.
The actions of the STC have heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of which share membership in OPEC but have been competing for influence within Yemen and beyond. This rivalry extends to other regional conflicts as well, such as the ongoing violence in Sudan, where the two countries support opposing forces. Furthermore, Israeli recognition of Somaliland as an independent entity has engendered concern, particularly among the Houthis, who have threatened retaliatory action against any Israeli presence in the region.
