In a significant escalation of a long-simmering rift, Saudi Arabia has publicly expressed its disappointment and issued a stern warning to the "brotherly United Arab Emirates" over its alleged support for separatist forces in Yemen. The kingdom declared any threat to its national security a "red line" and demanded the UAE withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours.
A Direct Accusation and a Stark Warning
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a strongly-worded press statement on Tuesday, directly accused the UAE of pressuring the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to launch military operations near Saudi Arabia's southern borders in Yemen's Hadramout and Al-Mahara governorates. It labelled the UAE's actions as "highly dangerous" and inconsistent with the goals of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
The ministry's statement was unequivocal: "In this context, the Kingdom stresses that any threat to its national security is a red line, and the Kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralize any such threat." This public admonishment marks a rare and serious fissure between the two powerful Gulf allies.
The Mukalla Airstrike and the Weapon Shipment
The diplomatic warning followed a military action earlier on Tuesday. The Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes on the port city of Mukalla in Yemen's Hadramout governorate. The coalition stated the strike targeted a shipment of weapons that had arrived for the STC from the United Arab Emirates.
According to reports, two ships from the UAE port of Fujairah arrived in Mukalla on Saturday and Sunday without authorisation. After docking, the vessels allegedly disabled their tracking systems and unloaded "large quantities of weapons and combat vehicles" intended for the Emirati-backed separatists. Analysts identified one of the targeted vessels as the 'Greenland', a ship that tracking data showed was in Fujairah on December 22 and arrived in Mukalla on Sunday.
Ultimatum and Regional Repercussions
Escalating its response, Saudi Arabia urged the UAE to comply with the Yemeni government's request for "all its forces to leave the Republic of Yemen" within a strict 24-hour deadline. It also called on the Emirates to halt all military and financial support to any party within Yemen.
The kingdom expressed hope that "wisdom" and "the principles of brotherhood" would prevail to preserve Gulf unity. However, the immediate fallout was tangible. Yemen's internationally-recognised Presidential Leadership Council declared a state of emergency, ended its defence cooperation with the UAE, and ordered all Emirati forces to evacuate within 24 hours. It also imposed a 72-hour ban on all border crossings, and airport and seaport entries in areas under its control, except those permitted by Saudi Arabia.
This public rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, centred on the complex battlefield of Yemen, signals a new and volatile phase in the long-running conflict, with potential implications for the stability of the entire Gulf region.
