Acting Director of Mukalla Port: Saudi Deception to Accuse UAE of Arms Smuggling and Bomb the Port
- 2026-01-03 06:14:27
Mukalla – Engineer Salem Ali Abdullah Basmeir, Acting Chairman of the Arabian Sea Ports Corporation, disclosed details of conversations he held with Dr. Mohammed Obaid Al-Qahtani, head of Saudi Arabia’s Special Committee, and Hadramout Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi, one day before the Saudi airstrike on Mukalla Port.
Basmeir stated that the talks centered on the Emirati vessel Green Land, stressing it carried cars and commercial goods only, with no weapons found after thorough inspection.
He added that an agreement had been reached to reload the vehicles onto two ships scheduled to arrive the following day.
He revealed that Al-Qahtani unexpectedly ordered the immediate evacuation of the port hours before the strike, which ultimately caused severe material and psychological damage and tarnished the port’s reputation.
Basmeir concluded by condemning the attack as a “major mistake,” noting he possesses recordings that expose what he described as “Saudi misrepresentations.”
