Saudi Arabia bombs UAE shipment in Yemen and calls out Emirati role

Saudi Arabia has bombed an Emirati shipment in southern Yemen, and for the first time directly called out the UAE’s role in backing southern separatist forces in the country. 

On Tuesday morning, Riyadh said it targeted weapons and vehicles that had arrived in the Yemeni port of Mukalla on vessels originating in Fujairah, a port city on the east coast of the UAE. 

“The ships’ crew had disabled tracking devices aboard the vessels, and unloaded a large amount of weapons and combat vehicles in support of the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) forces,” a Saudi military statement read.

It added that the weapons “constituted an imminent threat”, and therefore Saudi-led forces conducted “limited air strikes” targeting shipments offloaded from two vessels. 

Saudi state media said there were no casualties from the air strike, and that the raid was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law.

An STC representative told Middle East Eye that they disagreed with this assessment, and said the attack targeted "civilian infrastructure". 

"It's a clear violation of human rights and places civilians in danger," Mohamed Alsahimi, head of the STC's UK office, told MEE. 

"It disrupts civil peace and the freedom of navigation as well," he said. "There is no legal justification for these strikes."

30 vehicles damaged

An official at Mukalla port told AFP that a warning to evacuate was received at 4am local time, with the strike conducted 15 minutes later. Footage showed several vehicles burnt out and smouldering. 

Mohammed al-Basha, an expert on Yemen and founder of the Basha Report, a US-based risk advisory consultancy, said assessments indicate around 30 vehicles were damaged. 

“These included armoured vehicles and light military transport, as well as pickup trucks,” he told MEE. “The vehicles were positioned at the edge of the airport and seaport and had not yet been deployed or used by the STC.”

Later on Tuesday, Riyadh published a strong statement criticising the UAE’s role in Yemen. 

The Saudi foreign ministry said that it was disappointed by actions taken by the UAE “pressuring” the STC’s forces to conduct military operations on Saudi Arabia’s southern border, in the Yemeni regions of Hadhramaut and al-Mahrah. 

'The steps taken by the UAE are considered highly dangerous'

– Saudi foreign ministry

It said such actions were a threat to Saudi Arabia's national security, and the security and stability of Yemen and the wider region. 

“The steps taken by the UAE are considered highly dangerous,” the ministry stated, adding that they went against the principles upon which a coalition was set up – backed by both Abu Dhabi and Riyadh – to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government. 

“The kingdom stresses that any threat to its national security is a red line,” it said. “[We] will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralise any such threat.” 

It marks the strongest statement made by the kingdom since the STC seized control of swathes of territory in southern Yemen earlier this month. It is also the first time Riyadh has directly blamed the UAE for backing the separatists' offensive. 

Alsahimi said the Saudi statement had "no accuracy in its entirety", stating that the STC had been a reliable partner to the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis in Yemen. 

Later on Tuesday, the UAE announced that it would be withdrawing its own forces from Yemen "in light of recent developments". 

UAE rejects Saudi statement

Abu Dhabi claimed Saudi Arabia's statement contained “fundamental inaccuracies”. 

“The UAE categorically rejects any attempt to implicate it in the tensions between Yemeni parties and condemns the allegations of pressuring or directing any Yemeni party to carry out military operations,” the Emirati foreign ministry said. 

'The UAE categorically rejects any attempt to implicate it in the tensions between Yemeni parties'

– UAE foreign ministry

It said that it was committed to Saudi Arabia's security, and has worked on de-escalation efforts in Yemen over the past month. 

Abu Dhabi said the strike on Mukalla was made without Riyadh consulting other member states of the Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE. 

It said that the shipment was coordinated with Saudi Arabia, and that it did not contain weapons, but rather vehicles intended for use by UAE forces in the country.

“The UAE was surprised by the targeting of these vehicles at the port of Mukalla,” the ministry said.

Disagreements and jostling

Following the Yemeni war and the takeover of the capital, Sanaa, and other areas in the north by the Houthis in 2014, the Aden-based STC – which advocates for southern independence – has emerged as a key player among anti-Houthi elements.

Southern Yemen has for years been overseen by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), an executive government body that includes the STC and initially had both Saudi and Emirati support. 

However, the body has long been riddled with internal disagreements and jostling.

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the PLC, called for an immediate withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemen. 

Alimi announced on Tuesday that he had cancelled a joint defence agreement with the UAE, and demanded Emirati forces withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours. 

Alsahimi said the PLC had "no mandate" to make such an announcement, and that its chair made a "unilateral decision... without any consensus from the other PLC members".

"The UAE have been a very vocal partner in the coalition and they have supported Yemen, in the humanitarian situation and the fight against the Houthis," he said, adding that the Emiratis should stay until the coalition's "objectives have been achieved". 

But by Tuesday afternoon, hours after the Saudi strike and statement, the Emirati defence ministry announced "the termination of the remaining counterterrorism personnel in Yemen of its own volition". 

Second Saudi strike in last few days

Tuesday’s strike was the second alleged Saudi attack on the STC in a few days. The southern group said on Friday that Riyadh had targeted its elite forces in the central Yemeni region of Hadhramaut. Saudi Arabia did not comment. 

"The STC remains defiant and it will defend the security of our people and our lands," said Alsahimi. "But we are very much open for de-escalation and talks to resolve this issue."

The separatist group has affirmed that despite the Saudi threats, it will not withdraw from territory it has recently taken over in the southeast. 

Basha said that if the STC does not withdraw, Saudi Arabia would likely respond. 

He said it may involve "the formation of a coalition that includes Hadrami tribal fighters, Salafi units from the Yemen Emergency Force and the National Shield Force, as well as other northern elements aligned with Saudi Arabia". 

"These forces would be equipped, trained and supported by Saudi Arabia, with air cover, and would likely attempt to push the STC out by force."

Riyadh has not commented on any such moves. 

'Many local actors reject the idea that the STC speaks on their behalf'

- Mohammed al-Basha, analyst

South Yemen became an independent country following British withdrawal in November 1967, until Yemeni unification in 1990. 

After STC forces made huge advances in the country's southeast a few weeks ago, the flag of historic South Yemen was hoisted above buildings and waved by fighters and residents. 

"The STC grew out of the Southern Movement, which has called for southern independence since 2007," said Basha. 

"While the southern issue is widely recognised as a legitimate political cause and the STC is the largest and most organised political actor in southern Yemen, it does not represent all southern governorates."

He said that its influence and legitimacy varies by region. In Hadhramaut and al-Mahrah in particular, Basha said, there is strong local resistance. 

"These areas have distinct historical identities, political traditions and local leadership structures, and many local actors reject the idea that the STC speaks on their behalf."