Saudi Arabia has carried out an airstrike on the Yemeni port city of Mukalla following the arrival of a weapons consignment from the United Arab Emirates reportedly intended for separatist groups operating in the conflict-ravaged country. In a strongly worded response, Riyadh cautioned that the actions attributed to Abu Dhabi were viewed as “highly dangerous” and capable of worsening an already volatile situation.

The air raid came amid escalating tensions linked to recent territorial gains by the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist faction backed by the UAE. The group’s growing influence has alarmed Saudi Arabia, which has been leading a coalition in Yemen’s long-running war and sees the development as a threat to its strategic interests and stability efforts.

In defiance of Saudi warnings, the Southern Transitional Council and its allied groups released a statement endorsing the continued presence of Emirati forces in Yemen. This position sharply contrasted with demands from factions aligned with Riyadh, which issued an ultimatum calling on Emirati troops to leave Yemeni territory within 24 hours.

For its part, the United Arab Emirates rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusations, disputing claims that it was destabilising the situation through arms shipments. Abu Dhabi instead urged all parties to exercise “restraint and wisdom” in handling the dispute. However, it stopped short of confirming whether it would comply with calls to pull its forces out of Yemen.

The standoff has raised fears of a new and dangerous phase in Yemen’s nearly decade-long conflict. Observers warn that forces previously united against the Houthi rebels could now turn against one another, deepening chaos in a country already devastated by years of fighting, widespread hunger, and recurring disease outbreaks.

Beyond Yemen, the confrontation has further exposed growing strains in relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Although long-standing allies and neighbours on the Arabian Peninsula, the two nations have increasingly found themselves at odds over economic competition and regional political influence, particularly across the strategic Red Sea corridor.