Saudi Arabia conducts airstrikes on Mukalla, accusing UAE of unauthorized military support in Yemen's ongoing conflict.
Saudi Arabia has conducted limited airstrikes on Mukalla Port, located in the Gulf of Aden, as part of the "Coalition for the Restoration of Legitimacy in Yemen." The Riyadh administration accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of sending military equipment to the port without permission and demanded the immediate withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen.
In statements released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), it was claimed that two ships arrived at Mukalla Port from Fujairah Port over the weekend without authorization. Inspections and cargo documents revealed that these ships were unloading weapons and military vehicles for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). One of the vessels was identified as the Ro-Ro type Greenland, flagged in St. Kitts and Nevis. The 1984-built ship has a carrying capacity of 12,870 dwt and is operated by a UAE-based company with offices in Dubai, having been purchased by UAE investors in 2021. The identity of the second vessel has not yet been clarified, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Mukalla Port is located approximately 300 miles east of Aden, Yemen's temporary capital. The port is situated far from Sana'a, which is controlled by the Houthis in the northwest of the country. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE support groups fighting against the Houthis.
However, the two allied countries have long been at odds due to the struggle for influence in southern Yemen. While the UAE supports the Southern Transitional Council, which has strengthened its position and increased its influence in the south in recent weeks, Saudi Arabia backs the National Shield Forces loyal to the Yemeni government. According to AP, STC forces have recently pushed Saudi-backed troops away from the region.
UAE officials have denied Saudi Arabia's accusations, emphasizing that only logistical support is provided to the limited UAE presence remaining in Yemen, with the main objective being counter-terrorism. They noted that the majority of military forces were withdrawn from the country in 2019 and reported that UAE forces remaining in Yemen would voluntarily withdraw following the attacks in Mukalla.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Saudi Arabia issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the UAE to withdraw from Yemen. Analysts warn that the confrontation between the two regional powers could open a new and dangerous front in the nearly decade-long civil war in Yemen.
Source: www.denizhaber.com
