Saudi Airstrike on Yemeni Port Exposes Rift with Former Ally UAE

Saudi Arabia launched an overnight airstrike on a port in Yemen. It stated the target was a shipment of weapons from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Saudi military said the weapons were intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group in Yemen. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's official government in a civil war that has lasted over ten years. The UAE strongly denied the Saudi claim. It said the shipment did not contain weapons and was not meant for any armed group. The UAE has also been involved in the war, historically backing the STC against Houthi rebels. This public disagreement marks a significant shift. Analysts say the strike turns a behind-the-scenes rivalry into an open dispute between the two powerful Gulf nations.