Saudi bombings in Mukalla, Yemen, have escalated tensions with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), risking a resurgence of the Yemeni civil war. This incident underscores a growing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, potentially destabilizing the region and vital shipping lanes like the Bab al-Mandeb. The conflict's roots trace back to Yemen's unification and subsequent civil wars, with the Saudi-UAE coalition intervening in 2014. The UAE later shifted strategy, supporting the STC's secessionist aims in southern Yemen.