Saudi coalition: Two UAE ships entered Yemen’s Mukalla port without permission.
Al-Masirah TV quoted the official spokesman for the coalition as saying: The two ships had turned off their tracking and identification systems before entering Yemeni territorial waters.
Al-Maliki stressed that the entry of the two ships into the port of Mukalla was contrary to the usual procedures and regulations in such cases.
He also said that during the entry of the two ships into the port of Mukalla, it was found that they were carrying more than 80 vehicles and a cargo of weapons and ammunition.
The spokesman for the Saudi coalition added: When the two ships entered, the port of Mukalla was closed, and all local workers and staff left.
He said: The Emirati side transferred its vehicles, containers, and forces to the Al-Rayyan base without informing Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman for the coalition added: The Emirati side was informed that these escalating measures aimed at fueling the conflict are unacceptable.
Al-Maliki said: The vehicles were returned to the port, and the weapons containers remained at the Al-Rayyan base.
The coalition spokesman referred to the coalition’s military operation this morning on the port of Mukalla in Hadramaut province and claimed: “We carried out a limited military operation in a way that saved lives and ensured the port’s facilities.”
He said: “We observed the rules of engagement in the military operation on the port of Mukalla.” The Saudi coalition spokesman added: “We emphasize that the remaining containers are still being kept at the Al-Rayyan base until now.”
Al-Maliki’s remarks came a day after coalition forces supporting the so-called Yemeni Presidential Council bombed positions in the port of Mukalla in Hadramaut province in eastern Yemen.
The coalition added: “Two ships carrying weapons entered the port of Mukalla from the UAE port of Fujairah without obtaining permission on Saturday and Sunday.”
The coalition supporting the so-called Yemeni Presidential Council announced in the statement: “The two ships, which came from Fujairah, disabled their tracking systems and unloaded a large shipment of weapons and military vehicles to support the forces of the Southern Transitional Council and fuel the conflict.”
The statement added: The coalition command will continue to reduce tensions and implement the ceasefire in Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, and will prevent any military support from any country to any Yemeni party without coordination with the Yemeni Presidential Council and the coalition supporting this council.
The coalition supporting the so-called Yemeni Presidential Council added: Military operations in Mukalla will be carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law, and it is guaranteed that no collateral damage will occur.
Following this action, the Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement, called on the UAE to immediately respond to the request of Rashad Al-Alimi, the head of the Yemeni Presidential Council, and withdraw all its forces from Yemeni territory within 24 hours and stop any military and financial support to Yemeni internal parties.