The Saudi-led coalition carried out a “limited” airstrike on Tuesday at the port of Mukalla in eastern Yemen. They targeted weapons and military equipment from two ships as crews unloaded them.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki told the Saudi Press Agency that the vessels arrived at Mukalla between December 27 and 28. They arrived from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates without securing authorisation from the coalition’s Joint Forces Command.
Al-Maliki stated that the ships unloaded a large cache of weapons and combat vehicles destined for Southern Transitional Council forces in Yemen’s eastern Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates. He asserted that the shipment aimed to intensify the conflict and undermine regional security.
A Saudi-led coalition carried out airstrikes on weapons and tactical vehicles that it said were being unloaded at Yemen’s Mukalla port from two vessels arriving from the United Arab Emirates, describing the shipment as a clear violation of de-escalation efforts and international… pic.twitter.com/zy68GKWRYR
— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) December 30, 2025“Due to the serious threat posed by these weapons, the coalition air forces conducted a limited military operation. They targeted the unloaded equipment at Mukalla port after documenting clear violations,” al-Maliki said. He added that the strike followed international humanitarian law and that the coalition ensured no collateral damage occurred.
عاجل..
رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة اليمنية:
"السعودية بذلت جهوداً كبيرة لاحتواء المستجدات بالحوار والعقل؛ ولكن عندما لا يكون هناك عقل في المقابل، فآخر العلاج الكي" . pic.twitter.com/dxXjnodzbm
— أخبار السعودية (@SaudiNews50) December 30, 2025The spokesperson reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to de-escalation in eastern Yemen. He stressed that no military shipments to any faction would be allowed. This requires coordination with Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the coalition. There was no immediate response from the UAE regarding the operation.
Read: Pakistan Supports UN Security Council Renews Yemen Sanctions
Tensions have risen sharply in Yemen this month. The Southern Transitional Council seized control of parts of Hadramout and Al-Mahra following clashes with government forces. The STC argues that southern regions have suffered long-term political and economic marginalisation. It continues to call for separation from the north. Yemeni authorities, however, firmly reject this position and insist on preserving the country’s territorial unity.
