DID Press: Saudi Arabia has directly targeted two United Arab Emirates (UAE) ships carrying weapons at the port of Mukalla, following the expiry of a deadline set for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), reported local sources in Yemen.
The two vessels, which had departed from the UAE’s Fujairah port and docked at Mukalla in Yemen’s Hadramawt province, were carrying an arms shipment that had not been coordinated with Riyadh, according to the Saudi-led coalition.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki described the strike as “limited,” but said the ships were targeted because weapons had entered the port without the coalition’s prior knowledge or approval. Hours before the attack, the coalition issued a statement urging civilians to stay away from the port area to avoid harm.
Analysts view the move as a warning message to Abu Dhabi, particularly at a time when differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over southern Yemen and the role of the STC have become increasingly visible.
The targeting of vessels carrying undeclared weapons is seen as evidence of growing coordination gaps and operational disagreements between the two allies in managing developments in southern Yemen.