Saudi Arabia has released drone footage it says proves the United Arab Emirates was shipping weapons and armored vehicles to separatist forces in southern Yemen, a move Riyadh claims directly triggered a coalition airstrike on the port of Al-Mukalla. Saudi officials warned that any further illicit transfers would be intercepted, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions within the long-standing Saudi-UAE alliance.

The footage, dated December 29, 2025, allegedly shows UAE-flagged ships unloading armored vehicles at Mukalla port. Arabic overlays in the video identify the cargo as weapons intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group seeking independence for southern Yemen. According to Saudi officials, the delivery violated coalition agreements and posed a direct threat to regional stability.

Riyadh stated that the arms transfer prompted immediate military action, with coalition aircraft striking the port shortly after the unloading was detected. Saudi authorities described the strike as a preventive measure aimed at stopping the flow of heavy weapons to non-state actors and warned that similar shipments would not be tolerated.

The incident highlights deepening fractures between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, allies since 2015 in a coalition formed to counter Houthi forces in Yemen. While both countries initially backed the internationally recognized Yemeni government, their objectives have diverged over time, particularly as the UAE expanded its support for southern separatist factions.

Following the incident, Saudi Arabia reportedly issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of UAE-linked forces from contested areas and imposed a 72-hour blockade on Mukalla port to prevent further arms deliveries. Analysts say the moves reflect Riyadh’s growing concern that internal rivalries among coalition partners are fueling instability rather than containing it.

The public release of the drone footage marks a rare and direct accusation by Saudi Arabia against the UAE, underscoring the increasingly complex and fragmented nature of the Yemen conflict. As regional powers pursue competing agendas, the risk of further escalation within the coalition continues to rise, complicating efforts to bring the war closer to resolution.