Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on Yemen’s Mukalla port on Tuesday, targeting a shipment of weapons reportedly bound for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). Abu Dhabi has yet to respond to the operation.

The strikes underscore growing tensions between Riyadh and STC forces and risk exacerbating the already fraught relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Both Gulf powers have backed opposing factions in Yemen’s prolonged conflict against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

A statement from the state-run Saudi Press Agency said the strikes followed the arrival of vessels from Fujairah, a UAE port, and were aimed at "weapons and combat vehicles that jeopardise security and stability." The Saudi military emphasised that the operation was conducted overnight to minimise collateral damage.

Details on casualties remain unconfirmed, leaving the human cost of the operation uncertain.