Saudi Arabia deems UAE-backed Yemen advance a national security threat after coalition strikes weapons shipment in southern Yemen
Saudi Arabia has declared a UAE-backed advance by separatist forces in Yemen a direct threat to the kingdom’s national security, describing Abu Dhabi’s actions as “highly dangerous”, amid escalating tensions between the Gulf allies.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry statement followed reports that the Saudi-led coalition targeted a weapons shipment destined for separatist forces allied with the United Arab Emirates at the port of Al-Mukalla in southern Yemen.
The strike destroyed several vehicles and combat equipment, with AFP footage showing burnt-out pick-ups and military trucks.
“The steps taken by the UAE are considered highly dangerous,” the ministry said, adding that “any threat to national security is a red line” and vowing to take all necessary measures to neutralise threats.
The United Arab Emirates rejected the claims, insisting that the shipment contained no weapons and was not intended for any Yemeni party.
Abu Dhabi condemned suggestions it had pressured separatist forces to conduct operations along Saudi Arabia’s southern border.
The advance was led by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which has seized swathes of territory in a rapid campaign aimed at reviving the formerly independent state of South Yemen.
The offensive has embarrassed Riyadh, the main supporter of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
In response, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, led by Rashad al-Alimi, declared a 90-day state of emergency, annulled a security pact with the UAE, and demanded Emirati forces withdraw within 24 hours. The STC members of the council rejected the move, warning it could escalate the conflict further.
Local residents reported damage to property and widespread fear following the strikes. Abdullah Bazuhair, who lives near the port, said: “The strikes were unacceptable to God. The children were terrified and the women frightened.”
A Saudi military source indicated that diplomacy remains a possible avenue to prevent further escalation, despite the operation.
The coalition emphasised that the strikes were conducted in line with international humanitarian law and caused no collateral damage.
Tuesday’s strike comes days after Saudi air raids on STC positions in the resource-rich Hadramawt governorate, highlighting the growing rift between former allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
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