Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Dec 31: The Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen has claimed that two vessels entering the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla were transporting containers filled with weapons and ammunition, triggering a sharp exchange of accusations and raising regional tensions.
Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said in a post on social media platform X that the ships entered the port without securing clearance from the Yemeni government or approval from Coalition Command. His statement came in response to the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry, which had earlier maintained that the shipment contained no weapons and was intended for Emirati forces, according to Xinhua news agency.
Al-Maliki alleged that the UAE transferred the vessels and their containers to the Al-Rayyan military base without informing Saudi authorities. He further claimed that both ships had switched off their tracking and identification systems before entering Yemeni territorial waters. Subsequent inspections, he said, revealed that the containers were loaded with arms and ammunition.
According to the coalition, verified intelligence suggested that the weapons were meant to be moved and distributed across several locations in Yemen’s Hadramout province. The oil-rich region borders Saudi Arabia and has recently seen an expanded military presence by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The Coalition Command also confirmed that it carried out a “limited military operation” in Mukalla earlier in the day. Saudi media reported that the airstrike resulted in no casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. Nevertheless, the development is being viewed as a serious escalation between the two Gulf allies.
Against the backdrop of growing strain, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke by phone on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the evolving situation in Yemen as well as the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
During the conversation, the UAE reiterated its commitment to working alongside the United States and international partners to support efforts aimed at achieving long-term stability and peace in the region.