UAE ran secret prisons and stockpiled explosives in south Yemen, says official Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 01/19/2026 - 15:09 Hadramout governor invites journalists to inspect airbase near Mukalla, where he accuses Abu Dhabi of committing abuses A screenshot from a Yemeni broadcast purportedly showing a base in Mukalla used by the UAE (screenshot) Off A senior Yemeni government official has accused the UAE of stockpiling explosives and running a secret underground prison at an air base near the port city of Mukalla. Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of the eastern Yemeni province of Hadramout, made the allegation during a news conference on Monday. He accused the UAE of overseeing and supporting a series abuses in Hadramout, including enforced disappearances, torture, stockpiling explosives and running a secret detainment facility. “We have discovered a number of UAE secret prisons. And we have documented everything,” Khanbashi said. The governor said authorities had discovered large quantities of explosives, improvised explosive devices, and booby trap materials at al-Rayyan air base near Mukalla. Specialists at the site reportedly assessed that the materials were inconsistent with standard military practices, and resembled methods used by non-state actors. Khanbashi said the explosives were intended for assassinations. Saudi Arabia , which backs the internationally recognised Yemeni government, flew international journalists from Riyadh to inspect the al-Rayyan airbase. A team from Reuters was among those flown out. Yemeni officials published images which purported to show secret underground detainment facilities at the base. #Breaking : PLC member & Hadramawt Gov. says: UAE explosives found at camps in al-Rayyan Airport, Mukalla, intended for assassinations Decisive action to ensure UAE “pays the price” Al-Zubaidi forces looted state institutions pic.twitter.com/JtJuj1xJ3q — Ibrahim Jalal | إبراهيم جلال (@IbrahimJalalYE) January 19, 2026 “All the measures will be taken to hold perpetrators of violations accountable, either Aidarous al-Zubaidi or the UAE - its elements, officials, or people working for them... to achieve justice for the victims and their families,” Khanbashi said, refererencing the leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatist group. There was no immediate comment by the UAE foreign ministry. An STC official told Reuters: “We have continuously engaged constructively with UN and other human rights bodies to ensure the rights and protection of the Southern people.” Khanbasi further said that groups affiliated with Zubaidi “looted and stole” state facilities. He said that all those involved in violations “would be held accountable”. “[Hadramout] has turned the page on a bitter past with the help of Saudi Arabia,” the governor said. Saudi and UAE escalation Khanbashi’s accusations were yet more evidence of rising tensions between erstwhile close Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Abu Dhabi-backed STC separatists launched a lightning offensive in early December, which saw them take over swathes of territory in southeastern Yemen, including Hadramout and al-Mahra. The move angered Saudi Arabia, which supports the government as well as tribal groups in Hadramout. Riyadh responded by carrying out waves of air strikes on STC forces. In a rare direct spat, Saudi Arabia condemned the UAE's role in backing the STC, and on 30 December bombed an Emirati shipment which had arrived at Mukalla. Later that day, at the request of the Yemeni government, the UAE announced that it was to withdraw all its military personnel from Yemen "in light of recent developments". Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, supported by Riyadh’s airpower, re-asserted control over all of southern Yemen by 7 January. Zubaidi allegedly fled the country later that day, in a covert sea and air operation which Saudi Arabia said saw the STC leader and his entourage board a vessel towards Somaliland, before eventually flying to Abu Dhabi. In another sign of escalation, a post on Sunday from the Saudi-state run Al-Ekhbariya TV stated: “With Abu Dhabi inciting against Saudi Arabia.. the Kingdom will not hesitate to take the necessary steps and measures against it.” Yemen War News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0