Saudi warplanes struck a military camp operated by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council in the Yemeni port city of Mukalla, marking a sharp escalation in tensions among factions previously aligned against the Houthi movement. Video footage from the scene shows explosions and thick plumes of smoke rising from a desert area near a white vehicle, consistent with eyewitness accounts of the January 3, 2026, airstrike.

Reports indicate that the targeted site was an STC-controlled camp, and initial casualty figures confirm that at least 20 STC fighters were killed in the strikes. The attack comes amid intensifying clashes in Hadramawt province, where pro-Saudi forces have reportedly advanced in recent days, signaling a breakdown in coordination among anti-Houthi allies.

Mukalla, a strategic port city along Yemen’s southern coast, has long been a focal point for competing regional interests. The Southern Transitional Council, backed politically and militarily by the United Arab Emirates, has positioned itself as the dominant force advocating for an independent southern Yemen. In contrast, Saudi Arabia has supported a unified Yemeni state under a central government, creating growing friction between the two Gulf-backed camps.

The airstrike follows the STC’s announcement of a two-year transition plan toward independence for southern Yemen, a move that further strained relations within the already fragile coalition opposing the Houthis. Analysts view the strike as a warning shot from Riyadh, signaling its opposition to unilateral steps that could permanently fracture Yemen and complicate efforts to counter Iranian-backed influence.

The incident underscores the increasingly complex and volatile nature of the Yemen conflict, where shifting alliances and rival ambitions now pose as great a challenge as the war against the Houthis themselves. With multiple foreign-backed factions operating in close proximity, the risk of broader escalation remains high.

As smoke cleared over Mukalla, the strike served as a stark reminder that the battle for Yemen’s future is no longer confined to a single front, but is instead splintering along political, regional, and ideological lines with far-reaching consequences for regional stability.