24-Hour Ultimatum: Saudi-UAE Yemen Conflict Escalates After Port Strike

The long-standing alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Yemen is facing its gravest test yet. On December 29, 2025, the Saudi government backed a demand from Yemen's presidential council for UAE forces to withdraw within 24 hours. This follows a dramatic air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on a separatist-held port, signaling a sharp break between the two regional heavyweights.

The Mukalla Port Strike and Saudi-UAE Yemen Conflict 2025

According to AFP, the Saudi-led coalition targeted a shipment of weapons and military vehicles at the port of Mukalla. The coalition's spokesman, Maj-Gen Turki al-Maliki, stated the strike was a necessary move to counter an "imminent threat" posed by shipments intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group backed by the UAE.

The UAE quickly denied the allegations, insisting the shipment contained no weapons and was meant for their own forces. They expressed "deep regret" over the Saudi statement, claiming the strike was carried out without any prior consultation within the coalition.

Breaking the Defense Pact and 90-Day Emergency

Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidential council, took the unprecedented step of cancelling the joint defense pact with the UAE. He ordered Emirati forces to leave immediately to safeguard Yemen's "unity, sovereignty, and stability." Alimi also declared a state of emergency for 90 days, citing the need to confront both the Houthi movement and internal strife allegedly orchestrated by the UAE.

Since the conflict began in 2014, the war has claimed over 150,000 lives. While the STC and the government were once uneasy allies against the Houthis, their rivalry for control of southern Yemen has now pushed the coalition to the brink of collapse.