Saudi-led coalition airstrikes killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 in eastern Yemen on Friday. The strikes targeted camps held by UAE-backed southern separatists in Hadramout province. Mohammed Abdulmalik, head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Wadi Hadramaut, told AFP that seven airstrikes hit the military camp in the Al-Khasah area. Separatist forces also pushed back a ground attack. The hits come as tensions grow between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose interests in Yemen conflict. Saudi warplanes have been attacking STC positions to regain control over camps in Hadramout, a key province near Saudi border, according to the Associated Press. Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia struck Mukalla port city after two ships arrived from the UAE port of Fujairah. Riyadh said the ships carried weapons and armored vehicles for the STC, calling the shipments an “imminent threat” to Saudi security and warning the UAE’s actions were “extremely dangerous.” A separatist leader told AP that Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced toward STC camps, sparking the clashes. The STC refused to withdraw, leading to the airstrikes. Despite the violence, Hadramout's governor Salem al-Khanbashi described the operation as “peaceful.” He said it was “not a declaration of war” but a “responsible pre-emptive measure” to remove weapons and prevent chaos that could harm security. Saudi Arabia demands STC forces pull out of Hadramout and nearby Mahra province as part of de-escalation. The separatists have so far refused to give up camps or weapons. The conflict spilled into diplomacy and aviation. Saudi ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber accused STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in Aden. Al-Jaber tweeted Riyadh made “all efforts” to stop escalation but faced STC refusal. Meanwhile, Yemen’s STC-aligned transport ministry said Saudi Arabia imposed new rules requiring flights to and from Aden airport to be inspected in Jeddah. Flights between Aden and the UAE were suspended until the demands are lifted. Saudi authorities have not confirmed these measures.