DZWatch Exclusive: The Saudi-led Coalition has confirmed it conducted an airstrike targeting an arms shipment originating from the United Arab Emirates at the Port of Mukalla in Yemen. The Coalition asserts the operation adhered to established rules of engagement.
According to a statement released by a Coalition spokesperson, the shipment arrived via two vessels that allegedly failed to follow proper protocol. These included entering Yemeni territorial waters without prior authorization from the Yemeni government or the Coalition Command and disabling their tracking systems.
The spokesperson detailed that the Coalition, after documenting the arrival and unloading of the ships, notified high-ranking UAE officials, requesting the shipment be prevented from leaving the port to avoid fueling regional conflict. The vessels reportedly contained over 80 vehicles and numerous containers laden with weapons and ammunition.
Despite this notification, the Coalition alleges the UAE moved the vehicles and containers to Al Rayyan base, which houses a limited number of Emirati personnel and allied forces. The Coalition conveyed its disapproval of these actions, deeming them escalatory and detrimental to regional stability, and demanded the shipment’s return to the port.
While the vehicles were returned, the arms containers remained at Al Rayyan base. The Coalition stated it received credible intelligence indicating the imminent transfer and distribution of these weapons to various locations in the Hadramaut Valley and desert, a move they believe would exacerbate existing tensions.
The Coalition emphasized that to prevent casualties and minimize damage to public property, a limited military operation was conducted at the port. This operation, carried out after adhering to strict rules of engagement, aimed to neutralize the threat posed by the unauthorized arms shipment. The statement concludes by confirming that the remaining containers remain secured at Al Rayyan base.
