The coalition targets smuggled weapons in the port of Mukalla in support of legitimacy
The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced that it had carried out a limited and precise airstrike targeting an illegal shipment of foreign military support inside the port of Mukalla, in response to an official request from the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council. This operation comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to establish security and stability in the liberated eastern governorates and to prevent any military movements that could threaten civil peace or disrupt the existing de-escalation process.
Details of the operation and observed violations
Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki stated that monitoring systems detected two ships arriving from Fujairah port to Mukalla port on Saturday and Sunday, December 27-28, 2025. Al-Maliki explained that the ships entered without obtaining the necessary official permits from the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition, and that the crews deliberately disabled their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to conceal their cargo.
Intelligence and coalition documentation revealed the airdrop of large quantities of sophisticated weapons and armored vehicles intended to support the Southern Transitional Council forces in the Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates. This move constitutes a blatant violation of de-escalation mechanisms and an attempt to reignite conflict in areas that have remained relatively untouched by direct violence, thus necessitating decisive intervention.
Legal reference and international resolutions
The coalition's operations in this context are based on the international legal framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015, which prohibits the supply of weapons to any parties outside the framework of the internationally recognized legitimate government. These measures are essential to ensure that parallel military entities do not emerge that could undermine the authority of the Yemeni state and impede the peace efforts led by the United Nations and Saudi Arabia.
Military experts confirm that the flow of weapons outside the control of the Yemeni Ministry of Defense poses an existential threat to the unity of Yemeni military decision-making and threatens to turn the stable eastern governorates into new hotspots of tension, which is rejected by the international and regional community.
The strategic importance of the governorates of Hadramawt and Al Mahrah
The governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra hold paramount geopolitical and economic importance in the Yemeni equation, forming Yemen's strategic depth and possessing a long coastline and significant natural resources. The legitimate government and the coalition have consistently sought to keep these areas neutral in inter-state conflicts to ensure the continued flow of services and the protection of civilians. The airstrike aims to prevent a shift in the balance of power through military force and to preserve the security gains achieved in recent years.
Measures to protect civilians in Mukalla
Major General Al-Maliki emphasized that the military operation was conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules. To ensure the safety of civilians, the coalition issued advance warnings urging civilians to evacuate the port of Mukalla immediately and until further notice, and affirmed that all necessary precautions were taken to avoid any collateral damage.
The coalition concluded its statement by affirming its continued support for the legitimate Yemeni government and its firm stance against any attempts to destabilize the country, stressing that a political solution is the only way to end the Yemeni crisis, and that any military escalation will be met with a firm response to enforce calm and protect the Yemeni people.
