General

Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on the port city of Mukalla in Yemen on Tuesday. This action was taken in response to what the kingdom claimed was a delivery of weapons for a separatist group that had come from the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has not yet commented on the attack. This bombing marks a significant increase in tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Southern Transitional Council, the separatist group supported by the UAE. It also adds to the strain between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as both sides have been backing opposing factions in Yemen’s long-standing conflict against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. A statement from the Saudi military, published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, revealed that the strikes were conducted after ships arrived from Fujairah, a city on the UAE’s eastern coast. The statement noted, “Due to the threats these weapons pose to security and stability, the Coalition Air Forces carried out a targeted operation this morning against the arms and military vehicles unloaded from the two ships at the port.” There was no immediate information on any casualties resulting from the airstrike. The Saudi military indicated that the operation was carried out at night to minimize “collateral damage.” The UAE has not responded to an Associated Press inquiry regarding the situation. Analysts suggest that the attack likely aimed at a ship called the Greenland, a roll-on, roll-off vessel registered in St. Kitts. Tracking data reviewed by the AP indicated that this ship was in Fujairah on December 22 and reached Mukalla on Sunday. Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert and founder of the Basha Report, referenced social media footage claiming to show new armored vehicles in Mukalla following the ship's arrival. The ship's owners, located in Dubai, could not be contacted for comment. Mukalla is situated in Yemen's Hadramout governorate, which the Southern Transitional Council has recently taken control of. The port city is approximately 480 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of Aden, the center of power for anti-Houthi forces since the rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.