Aden (South24 Center)

On Tuesday at dawn (December 30), Saudi Arabia launched aerial attacks on Mukalla Port in Hadramout Governorate, marking a dangerous military escalation targeting a vital civilian facility and a major economic artery for the city. 

#Breaking |
Exclusive footage by South24 shows rising smoke at #Mukalla_Port, the city’s economic lifeline, following a Saudi airstrike#south24pic.twitter.com/kdQZ43kg2H

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 30, 2025

This coincided with the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, announcing decisions described as a declaration of open war on South Yemen.

Local sources informed South24 Center that Saudi fighter jets conducted airstrikes targeting the vicinity of Mukalla Port following official demands for its evacuation under the pretext of executing a "military operation." 

This resulted in widespread fires and extensive material damage within the port, with the effects of the bombardment extending to nearby residential houses and commercial shops, causing a state of panic among civilians.

Exclusive footage broadcast by South24 Center showed plumes of smoke rising from within the port and fires continuing for hours. 

Field sources reported massive damage to the facility's infrastructure, despite subsequent Saudi claims of no "collateral damage." 

Riyadh justified its aerial assault as being part of "protecting its national security," claiming to have monitored vessels carrying unauthorized weapons. 

It published aerial images it claimed were of two ships arriving from the UAE carrying military equipment for forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), and has vowed further escalation.

#Breaking |
Exclusive video shows damage to civilian homes in #Mukalla caused by Saudi airstrikes#south24pic.twitter.com/m8IVPj9yEn

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 30, 2025

In contrast, observers and legal experts told South24 Center that civilian ports are protected under International Humanitarian Law and that targeting them constitutes a grave violation, especially in the absence of any independent evidence justifying this attack.

Simultaneously with this assault, Rashad Al-Alimi announced from Riyadh a 90-day state of emergency and imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on southern ports and outlets for 72 hours, calling on the STC to "accelerate its withdrawal" from Hadramout and Al-Mahra. 

Al-Alimi stated that the UAE had pushed the STC toward military escalation and announced the cancellation of the joint defense agreement between Yemen and Abu Dhabi.

In a joint statement today, four members of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council rejected the unilateral decisions issued by PLC President Rashad Al-Alimi, emphasizing that they lack constitutional and legal basis and constitute a clear violation of the Transfer of Power Declaration based on the principle of consensus and collective action.

The joint statement, issued by Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, Abdulrahman Al-Maharami, Faraj Al-Bahsani, and Tareq Saleh, stated that Al-Alimi acted unilaterally in declaring a state of emergency and making dangerous political characterizations, including the call to expel the United Arab Emirates, without consulting the PLC or adhering to its organized decision-making mechanisms.

The four members stressed that no entity or individual within or outside the Leadership Council possesses the authority to expel any country from the Arab Coalition. 

They asserted that any decisions issued outside the Council’s collective framework lack legitimacy, and the issuer bears full responsibility for their political and security repercussions.

#Breaking |
Saudi Arabia claims there were no collateral damages from its airstrike on Mukalla Port#south24 https://t.co/rGPOpSLx4y

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 30, 2025

The statement reaffirmed the signatories' commitment to the principle of partnership and collective action, warning that using state institutions, or what remains of them, to settle internal or regional scores represents a dangerous deviation from the objective for which the Presidential Leadership Council was formed. 

In the same context, the statement emphasized that the UAE was and remains a major partner in confronting the Houthi project, has made great sacrifices, and has contributed to building security and military capabilities that protected civilians, international navigation, and combated terrorism.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its categorical rejection of the accusations contained in the Saudi statement, considering them to include fundamental fallacies regarding the UAE's role in the ongoing developments in Yemen. 

The UAE stressed that it has not exercised any pressure or directives to any Yemeni party to carry out military operations affecting the security of Saudi Arabia or its borders, affirming its steadfast commitment to the security and stability of the Kingdom and respect for its sovereignty.

It further clarified that its position in Hadramout and Al-Mahra was limited to containing tension, supporting de-escalation, and protecting civilians in coordination with Saudi Arabia.

#Breaking |
Circulating video shows damage to civilian and security vehicles in the Saudi airstrike on #Mukalla Port#south24 pic.twitter.com/1MdQEOAcKg

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 30, 2025

Regarding the military operation in Mukalla Port, the UAE rejected allegations of fueling the conflict, confirming that the military statement was issued without consultation with the Coalition countries, and that the targeted shipment did not contain weapons but rather vehicles designated for the use of UAE forces operating in Yemen. 

The statement noted that there was prior coordination with Saudi Arabia regarding them, with an agreement for them to remain in the port. 

It concluded by affirming that its presence in Yemen came at the invitation of the legitimate government and within the Arab Coalition to support the restoration of legitimacy and combat terrorism while respecting Yemeni sovereignty.