Saudi-led forces struck an Emirati shipment early Tuesday, worsening tensions between the once-close allies. The Saudis said the shipment had arms for a separatist group, which the Emiratis denied.

Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Mukalla on Tuesday over what it described as a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there that arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.

Saudi Arabia hopes that the Southern Transitional Council (STC) will withdraw its forces from Yemen's Hadramout and Mahra provinces. The STC's military actions displaced the Saudi-backed government, leading to an unwarranted escalation that negatively impacted Yemeni interests,