(Photo: AFP)AL MUKALLA, Yemen - Saudi Arabia declared a UAE-backed separatist advance in Yemen as a threat to Riyadh’s national security on Tuesday and called Abu Dhabi’s actions “highly dangerous”, as the conflict boiled over into an open dispute between the Gulf powers. The strongly worded foreign ministry statement came after the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it had struck a United Arab Emirates weapons shipment destined for separatist forces. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, traditionally close allies who joined forces in Yemen against the Houthis, have increasingly been at odds over the conflict on their doorstep, as well as the war in Sudan. The ships had arrived from the UAE port of Fujairah, SPA said, adding that the operation was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and without collateral damage. Tuesday’s strike came days after reported Saudi air raids on separatist positions in resource-rich Hadramawt — and after Washington called for restraint in the conflict.

Source: Bangkok Post December 30, 2025 13:50 UTC