Tensions in Yemen lead to state of emergency following Saudi-led airstrike

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Tensions in Yemen lead to state of emergency following Saudi-led airstrike

2025-12-31 14:11 Last Updated At：01-01 12:56

Tensions in Yemen escalated on Tuesday as a Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeted the port of Mukalla in the southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout.

The strike reportedly triggered a large explosion and fire in the port area, according to a Yemeni security official. Initial reports did not detail casualties or damage.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the coalition claimed the operation was a limited military action.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said that two vessels from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) entered Mukalla Port without authorization on December 27-28, with their tracking systems turned off. He alleged the ships unloaded weapons and military vehicles destined for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a political and military group that advocates self-determination and the eventual independence of South Yemen.

The action was taken at the request of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to protect civilians, said the coalition spokesman.

In response to the developments, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Yemeni PLC, declared a 90-day nationwide state of emergency, extendable if necessary. He simultaneously imposed a 72-hour air, land, and sea blockade on all Yemeni ports and border crossings.

Al-Alimi also canceled a security pact with the UAE after the UAE-backed STC seized swathes of territory in Yemen's provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah. He ordered the withdrawal of the forces from both provinces within 24 hours.

The UAE said its Defense Ministry had decided to end the deployment of its remaining counter-terrorism personnel in Yemen due to recent developments and operational considerations.

Despite the announcement of the emergency measures from Riyadh, life appeared normal in the southern port city of Aden, a major STC stronghold, according to a reporter from China Media Group.

Rescue concludes after 25 confirmed dead in cargo ship fire in east China

A search and rescue operation came to a close Thursday for a cargo ship fire at a shipyard in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province, after all the 25 individuals initially reported to be missing were located and confirmed dead.

The fire broke out at around 11:15 when the ship was undergoing maintenance at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., according to the municipal fire and rescue bureau.

A total of 42 people were aboard the ship. Twelve were safely evacuated, and five injured individuals were taken to the hospital, where they are in stable condition.

The blaze was extinguished at around 14:30.

Emergency management, fire and rescue, police, and medical departments were immediately mobilized to carry out search and rescue operations following the accident.

"Inside the cabin, it was extremely hot, and very slippery because the hot steam had melted all the old and accumulated grease and grime," said Hao Xiang, a firefighter.

In the burn unit of Qingdao West Coast New Area Central Hospital, two injured patients are receiving treatment. They sustained minor burns to the face and upper limbs and are in stable condition, according to an attending doctor.

"Upon admission of the patients injured in the accident, we immediately conducted a comprehensive checkup on them and identified their injury to be a mild burn. We provided them with burn dressing changes, antibiotics to prevent infection, and rapid fluid replacement, among other treatments," said Wang Guangjun, director of the Department of Hepatobiliary, Thyroid and Breast Burn Surgery under the Qingdao West Coast New Area Central Hospital.

The cause of the accident is now under investigation.