Saudi Arabia bombs Mukalla, Yemen

Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Yemen — Mukalla, targeting a weapons shipment from the United Arab Emirates intended for the separatist Southern Transitional Council. This action significantly escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who have been backing opposing sides in Yemen's decade-long war against the Iranian-backed Houthis. The Saudi military stated the strike was a 'limited airstrike' to neutralize an 'imminent threat' from weapons offloaded from ships that arrived from United Arab Emirates — Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. In response, Yemen's anti-Houthi forces declared a state of emergency, ending cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and demanding the withdrawal of Emirati forces. The United Arab Emirates denied shipping weapons but acknowledged sending vehicles for its forces, calling for 'restraint and wisdom' while also announcing a withdrawal of its remaining troops from Yemen. This confrontation marks the most serious between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in decades, further complicating the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and potentially opening a new front in the conflict.