Saudi Arabia bombed a port on December 30 to destroy weapons the UAE had shipped to the Southern Transitional Council, which had just seized 80% of Yemen's oil reserves. A vessel named Greenland had disabled its tracking system after leaving Fujairah on December 22 and unloaded combat vehicles and weapons at Mukalla on December 28 for the STC.
Yemen's government declared a 90-day state of emergency, imposed a 72-hour 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.
The split marks a major rupture between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Four of eight Presidential Leadership Council members publicly rejected Chairman al-Alimi's ultimatum as unilateral and unconstitutional, fragmenting Yemen's government. The STC's December 2 'Operation Promising Future' offensive collapsed Saudi-backed forces: tribal leader Amr bin Habrish fled as his Hadramout Tribal Alliance surrendered, and STC seized the PetroMasila oil facility on December 4.
The UAE backs southern secession while Saudi Arabia wants a unified Yemen to protect its 425-mile border. What's at stake: Yemen's oil reserves, critical shipping lanes, and whether the Middle East's richest neighbors will fight a proxy war against each other.
27 events
Latest: December 31st, 2025 · 5 months ago
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December 2025
Saudi Arabia Reveals Greenland Ship Details
LatestStatement
Coalition provides tracking data showing roll-on/roll-off vessel Greenland, flagged out of St. Kitts, departed Fujairah December 22, disabled tracking systems, and arrived Mukalla December 28 carrying over 80 vehicles, weapons containers, and Emirati personnel transferred to al-Rayyan base.
Regional analysts describe crisis as 'strategic divorce' marking end of seamless Saudi-UAE alignment. Term 'frenemies' used to characterize relationship that started with similar goals but ended supporting rival groups across multiple regional conflicts from Syria to Sudan to Yemen.
Saudi Arabia Bombs Mukalla Port
Military
Saudi coalition strikes Mukalla port targeting weapons and combat vehicles from two UAE ships that entered without authorization, disabled tracking systems, and unloaded equipment for STC forces.
Yemen Issues 24-Hour UAE Ultimatum
Political
Presidential Leadership Council Chairman al-Alimi cancels joint defense agreement with UAE, demands all Emirati forces withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours, states UAE role has become directed against Yemeni people.
Saudi Arabia Backs UAE Ultimatum
Statement
Saudi Foreign Ministry states UAE actions constitute threat to Kingdom's national security and regional stability, describes moves as extremely dangerous, demands UAE end all support to armed groups.
UAE Announces Troop Withdrawal
Political
UAE announces voluntary withdrawal of remaining counterterrorism forces from Yemen. Emirati Foreign Ministry denies shipping weapons, claims vehicles were for UAE forces and Saudi Arabia knew about shipment.
Yemen Declares 90-Day State of Emergency
Political
Al-Alimi declares nationwide state of emergency for 90 days, citing need to counteract coup and internal strife caused by military rebellion in eastern provinces aimed at dividing Yemen.
Yemen Imposes 72-Hour Blockade
Political
Presidential Leadership Council announces 72-hour air, sea, and land blockade on all ports, airports, and border crossings in response to STC rebellion and UAE support.
Saudi Arabia Calls UAE Actions 'Extremely Dangerous'
Statement
Saudi Foreign Ministry issues formal statement declaring UAE actions in Yemen threaten Kingdom's national security, constitute violation of coalition principles, calls situation 'extremely dangerous,' demands UAE halt all military and financial support to armed groups.
Four PLC Members Denounce Al-Alimi's Decisions
Political
Four of eight Presidential Leadership Council members—aligned with STC—issue statement calling al-Alimi's ultimatum and emergency declaration 'clear violation' of power-transfer agreement, stating PLC decisions must be made by consensus, not unilateral action. Government splits 4-4.
UAE Denies Weapons Shipment Allegations
Statement
UAE Foreign Ministry categorically rejects allegations it pressured or directed STC to carry out military operations threatening Saudi security. Claims vehicles at Mukalla were for UAE forces, not STC, and Saudi Arabia was informed of shipment.
Yemen Government Requests Coalition Intervention
Political
Presidential Leadership Council formally requests Saudi-led coalition military action to counter STC advances.
Saudi Defense Minister Issues Withdrawal Demand
Statement
Prince Khalid bin Salman publicly calls on STC to withdraw from Hadramawt and Mahra peacefully, warning time is running out.
First Saudi Strikes on STC Positions
Military
Saudi Arabia conducts two airstrikes on STC positions in Wadi Nahb, Hadramawt, following clashes with Saudi-linked tribal leader.
Saudi Arabia Warns STC
Statement
Saudi Foreign Ministry describes STC operations as unjustified escalation. Coalition spokesperson warns military moves violating de-escalation will be dealt with directly.
STC Captures Hadramawt and Mahra
Military
STC seizes control of oil-rich Hadramawt and Mahra governorates, capturing 80% of Yemen's proven oil reserves and territory bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman.
STC Seizes PetroMasila Oil Facility
Military
During early hours, STC forces capture PetroMasila facility and surrounding military positions from Hadramout Tribal Alliance. Yemen's largest oil company changes hands as Saudi-backed forces withdraw under reported Saudi-mediated agreement, relocating to As Sawm District.
Hadramout Tribal Alliance Forces Collapse
Military
Field sources report complete collapse within ranks of Sheikh Amr bin Habrish's militias. Bin Habrish abandons main positions, retreating to Wadi Sana with two commanders as mass surrenders occur across Hadramout.
Al-Zoubaidi publicly advocates splitting Yemen into separate northern and southern states, abandoning pretense of unity government.
April 2022
Presidential Leadership Council Formed
Political
President Hadi transfers power to eight-member council including STC's al-Zoubaidi as Vice President. Attempt to formalize power-sharing after Riyadh Agreement failures.
2020
UAE Withdraws Most Forces
Military
UAE pulls out bulk of troops but continues supporting STC and other southern armed groups, fully diverging from Saudi strategy.
November 2019
Riyadh Agreement Signed
Political
Government and STC sign Saudi-mediated power-sharing deal. Most provisions go unimplemented as STC continues territorial expansion.
August 2019
UAE Airstrikes Kill 300 Government Soldiers
Military
UAE conducts airstrikes on government positions outside Aden, killing and injuring over 300 Saudi-backed troops. Coalition openly fighting itself.
January 2018
STC Seizes Aden from Government
Military
Southern Transitional Council captures Yemen's temporary capital Aden from government forces, revealing fault lines within anti-Houthi coalition.
May 2017
UAE Forms Southern Transitional Council
Political
Aidarus al-Zoubaidi announces formation of STC calling for southern secession with UAE backing. Represents first major divergence in Saudi-UAE Yemen strategy.
March 2015
Saudi Arabia Launches Yemen Intervention
Military
Saudi-UAE coalition begins Operation Decisive Storm to restore President Hadi's government and counter Houthi rebels who seized Sanaa. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman orchestrates intervention as defense minister.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
May-July 1994
1994 Yemen Civil War
Just four years after North and South Yemen unified in 1990, southern leaders tried to secede, declaring the Democratic Republic of Yemen on May 21, 1994. Northern forces crushed the rebellion within months. No country recognized the southern state and most Yemeni Socialist Party leaders fled into exile. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia was one of the only countries to support the southern secessionists, worried that a unified Yemen would destabilize the region.
Then
Northern victory reunified Yemen under President Ali Abdullah Saleh's control.
Now
Southern grievances festered for decades, spawning the Southern Movement in 2007 and eventually the STC in 2017. The 1994 war proved secession could be militarily defeated but not politically resolved.
Why this matters now
The 2025 crisis is 1994 in reverse—this time Saudi Arabia opposes southern secession while the UAE backs it. STC leaders explicitly invoke 1994's failure and argue they won't repeat mistakes that allowed northern forces to win.
2 of 3
1962-1970
1960s Yemen Civil War and Proxy Conflict
After royalists were overthrown in North Yemen, Saudi Arabia backed the monarchists while Egypt sent 70,000 troops to support the republicans. The Soviet Union armed Egypt as its regional proxy. What started as internal Yemeni politics became a Cold War proxy battle that contributed to tensions leading to the 1967 Six-Day War. The conflict killed over 100,000 Yemenis and ended only when Egypt withdrew after its 1967 defeat.
Then
Republican government survived but Yemen remained unstable and impoverished.
Now
Established pattern of regional powers fighting proxy wars in Yemen rather than direct confrontation. Yemen became known as the graveyard of intervention.
Why this matters now
Both the 1960s and current conflicts show how quickly Yemen's civil wars become regional proxy competitions with devastating humanitarian costs. The pattern is identical—external powers choose sides, pour in weapons, and Yemen burns.
3 of 3
June 2017-January 2021
2017 Saudi-Qatar Crisis
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar, imposed a blockade, and issued 13 demands including shutting down Al Jazeera and cutting ties with Iran. The quartet expected Qatar to capitulate within weeks. Instead Qatar aligned closer with Turkey and Iran, the blockade failed economically, and the crisis dragged on for three and a half years before ending with minimal Qatari concessions.
Then
The blockade disrupted Gulf Cooperation Council unity but Qatar survived economically and politically.
Now
Demonstrated limits of Saudi-UAE coercion against a wealthy, determined Gulf neighbor. Ultimately required US mediation to resolve with face-saving agreement in January 2021.
Why this matters now
Shows Saudi Arabia and UAE can be on the same side of regional conflicts when interests align. But it also reveals both countries' tendency to overestimate their leverage and underestimate costs of confrontation. The Yemen rift could follow similar pattern—initial escalation, prolonged standoff, eventual negotiated de-escalation that changes little.
