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The Saudi-led Arab Coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said two ships that entered the Port of Mukalla without authorization were carrying weapons intended for distribution in Hadramawt.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the ships entered the port without permission from the Yemeni government or the coalition command and violated established procedures.
He said the vessels had switched off their tracking and identification systems before entering Yemeni territorial waters.
Al-Maliki said the port was closed during the ships’ arrival and that all local workers and staff were evacuated.
He said it was later determined that the vessels were carrying containers loaded with weapons and ammunition, as well as more than 80 vehicles.
After the arrival and unloading process was documented, senior officials in the United Arab Emirates were informed to prevent the shipment from reaching conflict zones.
However, al-Maliki said the UAE transferred the vehicles and containers to the al-Rayyan Air Base without informing Saudi Arabia.
He said up to 10 UAE personnel, along with forces involved in the conflict, were stationed at the base.
Al-Maliki said the coalition informed the UAE that such actions, which he described as escalating the conflict, were unacceptable and must be reversed.
He said the vehicles were returned to the port, while the weapons containers remained at al-Rayyan Air Base.
He added that during this period, coalition command received confirmed information that the vehicles and weapons would be transported and distributed to various locations in the Hadramawt valley and desert.
Al-Maliki said that on Tuesday morning, coalition command carried out a limited military operation to secure lives and facilities at the port and to prevent casualties or damage to public property.
He said the remaining containers are currently at al-Rayyan Air Base.
On Dec. 3, forces affiliated with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council seized eastern provinces extending to the borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.
On Dec. 30, the Aden-based Yemeni government announced it had canceled a joint defense agreement with the UAE, which had military forces in Yemen as part of the Arab Coalition.
Al-Maliki said a limited military operation was also carried out at Mukalla Port, which is under the control of the Southern Transitional Council, targeting weapons and military vehicles.
He said the two ships carrying military equipment had arrived from the Port of Fujairah in the UAE without approval from coalition command.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry later called on the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours at Yemen’s request and to refrain from providing military or financial support to any party in the country.
Riyadh described the UAE’s actions in Hadramawt and al-Mahra provinces, near Saudi Arabia’s southern border, as a threat to national security.
The UAE later announced it had voluntarily disbanded its counterterrorism units operating in Yemen.
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