Saudi-led Coalition

Force in Play

Fracturing as Saudi Arabia and UAE support opposing forces

Saudi Arabia bombed a Yemeni port on December 30 to destroy weapons the UAE shipped to separatist forces—forces that were supposed to be on the same side. A roll-on/roll-off vessel named Greenland, flagged out of St. Kitts, disabled its tracking system after leaving Fujairah on December 22 and unloaded combat vehicles and heavy weapons at Mukalla on December 28 for the Southern Transitional Council, which just seized 80% of Yemen's oil reserves. Within hours, Yemen's government declared a 90-day state of emergency, imposed a 72-hour air-sea-land blockade, canceled its defense pact with the UAE, and demanded all Emirati forces leave within 24 hours. The UAE announced voluntary withdrawal by evening. Saudi Arabia called UAE actions an 'extremely dangerous' threat to its national security.

Updated Dec 31, 2025