Explained: What triggered Saudi Arabia’s renewed bombing campaign in Yemen

Sana’a: In further escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday bombed the port city of Mukalla in Yemen. Describing the reason behind the attacks, Riyadh alleged the shipment of weapons for a separatist force in Yemen. It also linked separatist’s recent advances in Yemen.

Tensions increase between Saudi Arabia and UAE

The latest attack suggests tensions between Saudi Arabia and separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen, which is backed by the UAE. Notably, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been backing competing sides in Yemen’s war with the Houthis who have been constantly backed by Iran. While both Saudi Arabia nd UAE have backed each other on various issues, both countries have also competed against each other over political and economic issues.

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Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces end ties with UAE

On Tuesday, Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces ended ties with the UAE and declared a state of emergency in the country. It also asked Emirate forces to leave the country within 24 hours. It also ordered a 72-hour ban on all border crossings in its territory, apart from entries in seaports and airports, apart from those permitted by Saudi Arabia, news agency Associated Press reported.

Saudi Arabia on why strikes were carried out

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Strikes carried out by Saudi Arabia was announced by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. It added that strikes were conducted after ships carrying weapons arrived there from Fujairah in the UAE. “The ships’ crew had the disabled tracking devices aboard the vessels, and unloaded a large amount of weapons and combat vehicles in support of the Southern Transitional Council’s forces,” it said in a statement.

It added, “Considering that the aforementioned weapons constitute an imminent threat, and an escalation that threatens peace and stability, the Coalition Air Force has conducted this morning a limited airstrike that targeted weapons and military vehicles offloaded from the two vessels in Mukalla.”