Saudi Arabia Mukalla Bombing Triggers UAE Withdrawal from Yemen

The alliance is fractured. In a move that's sent shockwaves through the Middle East, Saudi Arabia launched a targeted airstrike on Yemen's strategic Mukalla port. The target wasn't a rebel insurgent group, but a shipment of weapons from its own coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), destined for southern separatist forces.

Saudi Arabia Mukalla Bombing: A Coalition Under Fire

The strike marks a violent escalation in the long-simmering rivalry between the two heavyweights. While both entered the war to counter Houthi rebels, their visions for Yemen's future have diverged. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized government, while the UAE has increasingly backed separatists seeking an independent South. The bombing at the port indicates that Riyadh is no longer willing to tolerate Abu Dhabi's independent maneuvering.

The UAE Exit and the Shifting Geopolitics

Following the attack, the UAE announced it would withdraw its military forces from Yemen. It's a massive shift in a conflict that has lasted since 2015. By pulling out, the UAE is effectively ending its direct military involvement in the coalition, leaving Saudi Arabia to manage the quagmire alone. This withdrawal doesn't just change the battlefield; it redraws the political map of the Arabian Peninsula.