Saudi Airstrikes and Blockade Declared Amid Growing UAE Rift

RIYADH : The conflict in Yemen has entered a volatile new phase as the Saudi-led Coalition conducted airstrikes against UAE-linked weapon shipments, leading the Yemeni government to declare a nationwide state of emergency and a total blockade.

The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen confirmed it conducted a “limited” airstrike targeting two shipments of military hardware. The weapons were reportedly smuggled from the Emirati port of Fujairah into Mukalla. Major General Turki Al-Maliki, the Coalition spokesperson, alleged the equipment was destined for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to “fuel the conflict” in the Hadramaut and Al-Mahra regions.

In a drastic diplomatic move, Rashad Al-Alimi, leader of Yemen’s presidential council, announced a 90-day state of emergency. This includes:

A total shutdown of air, sea, and land borders.

The formal termination of a defense agreement with the UAE.

An immediate call for the withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemeni soil.

The recent military campaign by the STC has seen the separatist group seize the strategic PetroMasila oilfields and the city of Seiyun. This advance has revived fears of a permanent split in Yemen, potentially returning the south to a separate state, while simultaneously stalling peace talks with Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “regret” over Emirati pressure on STC forces, warning that these maneuvers pose a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security. While the UAE announced a “voluntary” withdrawal of its remaining counter-terrorism units, the diplomatic divide within the Arab Coalition has reached its most precarious point in years.