In a significant development on the ground aimed at establishing security and preventing the militarization of liberated areas outside the framework of the state, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced the execution of a limited and precise airstrike targeting a shipment of foreign military support that arrived at the port of Mukalla. This operation comes in response to the necessities of the military and political situation to ensure the stability of the eastern governorates and prevent any attempts to undermine the de-escalation efforts sponsored by the United Nations and regional parties.
Details of the violations and the military operation
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki stated that monitoring and tracking systems recorded the entry of two ships arriving from Fujairah port to Mukalla port on Saturday and Sunday, December 27 and 28, 2025. Al-Maliki explained that the crews of the two ships deliberately disabled their Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking systems as a deceptive tactic before unloading large quantities of sophisticated weapons and combat vehicles.
Intelligence information indicated that this shipment was intended to support the Southern Transitional Council forces in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, in a move that the coalition considered a clear violation of de-escalation efforts and a direct threat to security and social peace in those sensitive areas.
Legal cover and international legitimacy
The coalition leadership confirmed that the military operation was launched at the official request of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and enforce state authority. These measures are based on international law, specifically UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015, which prohibits the supply of weapons to armed groups outside the legitimate government and authorizes member states to take the necessary measures to implement the embargo.
This move sends a firm message that the coalition and the international community will not allow Yemen to be flooded with more weapons that fuel side conflicts and hinder reaching a comprehensive political solution to end the years-long Yemeni crisis.
The strategic importance of the governorates of Hadramawt and Al Mahrah
The governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra hold paramount geopolitical and economic importance on the Yemeni map, forming the strategic depth of the liberated areas and possessing vital natural resources and important border and sea ports. The legitimate government and the coalition have consistently sought to spare these regions the ravages of armed conflict, given their role as a safe haven for displaced persons and a center of economic activity.
Observers believe that the attempt to introduce heavy weapons and combat vehicles into these areas aims to change the military balance on the ground, which could drag the region into a new spiral of violence that affects maritime security and regional stability, thus requiring urgent and decisive intervention from the coalition forces.
Strict measures to protect civilians
In accordance with the rules of international humanitarian law, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy issued an urgent appeal to civilians and workers at the port of Mukalla to immediately evacuate the site until further notice. The Coalition emphasized that the purpose of this measure is to ensure the safety of civilians during the military operation, which targeted legitimate military objectives (weapons and vehicles) with high precision to avoid any collateral damage to civilian objects or port infrastructure.
Major General Al-Maliki concluded his statement by emphasizing that the coalition leadership will continue to closely monitor the situation and prevent any illegitimate military support from reaching any Yemeni party without full coordination with the legitimate government, in order to ensure the success of Saudi and international efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive security and stability in Yemen.
