Saudi Arabia-UAE | Image: AP/Republic
Saudi Arabia has bombed an Emirati shipment in southern Yemen, marking the first time it has directly mentioned the UAE’s role in supporting southern separatist forces in the country.
On Tuesday morning, Riyadh said it targeted weapons and vehicles that had arrived at Yemen’s Mukalla port on ships arriving from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s east coast.
Emirati army should withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours
The bombing followed days of tensions over an advance by separatist forces known as the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the Emirates. Despite the warning, the council and its allies issued a statement in support of the UAE’s presence, while others aligned with Saudi Arabia demanded that Emirati forces withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours.
The UAE separately called for restraint and prudence, while denying Riyadh’s accusations. It did not say it would withdraw from Yemen as demanded. The confrontation threatens to open a new front in Yemen’s decade-long war, with forces aligned against the Iran-backed Houthis turning on each other in the Arab world’s poorest country, which has long battled famine and disease.
The attacks were announced in a military statement issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, which said the attacks came after the ships arrived off Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s east coast. “The crews of the ships deactivated the tracking devices on board the ships, and unloaded a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles in support of the Southern Transitional Council forces,” the statement said.
It added, “Considering that the above weapons pose an imminent threat, and an escalation that threatens peace and stability, coalition air forces have conducted a limited air strike this morning targeting weapons and military vehicles unloaded from two ships in Mukalla.” It was not clear whether there were any casualties in the attack.
What did the Emirati Foreign Ministry say?
Hours later, the Emirati Foreign Ministry denied sending the arms consignment, but admitted that it had sent the vehicles for the use of UAE forces operating in Yemen. The UAE had largely withdrawn its forces from Yemen years ago. He also claimed that Saudi Arabia had prior knowledge about the consignment.
“These developments raise legitimate questions about how to deal with them and their consequences, at a time when the highest level of coordination, restraint and prudence is required, taking into account current security challenges and threats,” the ministry said. Yemen’s Houthi opposition forces declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, ending cooperation with the UAE and ordering all Emirati forces present in their area to evacuate within 24 hours. They imposed a 72-hour ban on all border crossings in the territory under their control, and also banned entry into airports and seaports, except those permitted by Saudi Arabia.
Pressure on relations between Saudi Arabia and UAE
The separatist actions have strained relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have close ties and are members of the OPEC oil cartel but in recent years have also been competing for influence and international business. Saudi Arabia in particular has tried to lure foreign companies from Dubai, home of long-haul carrier Emirates and long a hub for migrant workers. There have been border disputes between these countries in the past, even before the UAE was created in 1971. Tuesday’s air strikes and ultimatum are considered the most serious confrontation between these countries in decades.
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