New airstrip on Yemeni island spurs speculation near critical trade route

Jan 17

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

A newly constructed airstrip on Abd al-Kuri Island, part of Yemen’s remote Socotra Archipelago, is nearing completion, according to satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press. Located near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, a critical maritime trade route, the runway has drawn attention for its potential strategic significance in a region plagued by conflict.

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The airstrip, first reported in March 2024, spans approximately 1.5 miles and could be used for military and surveillance operations. This development comes as Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea have intensified.

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Satellite photos show the words “I Love UAE” spelled out in piles of dirt near the airstrip, suggesting possible Emirati involvement. However, the United Arab Emirates has not claimed responsibility for the construction. The UAE has been active in Yemen, supporting the Saudi-led coalition in its fight against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, and backing the Southern Transitional Council, which holds significant control over the Socotra Archipelago.

The Emirati government has described its presence in the region as humanitarian and has coordinated with Yemeni authorities. Previous infrastructure projects, such as airstrips on Mayun Island and near Mocha, have also been linked to Emirati activity, further fueling speculation about the UAE’s objectives.

Abd al-Kuri Island is located about 60 miles from the African coast and 250 miles from Yemen. While the island is within range of Houthi drones and missiles, its distance from the mainland makes it less vulnerable to direct rebel incursions. Analysts suggest the airstrip could be used to monitor weapons smuggling routes from Iran to the Houthis, or to support naval operations in the region.

Houthi rebels have ramped up their attacks on ships since November, linking their actions to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. While many of the targeted vessels have no ties to Israel, the rebels have used the heightened tensions to draw international attention. Experts warn that a ceasefire in Gaza may not halt the Houthis’ operations, which have also included targeting U.S. warships in the Red Sea.

The Socotra Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique flora and fauna, has long been strategically significant. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union used the area for naval operations, and it remains a key location in the region’s geopolitics.

As the airstrip on Abd al-Kuri nears completion, its purpose and implications for Yemen’s ongoing conflict remain unclear. Houthi rebels continue to launch attacks, and the UAE’s activities in the Socotra Archipelago face increased scrutiny. The new infrastructure raises further questions about the future stability of the region.

Tags: airstrikes, Houthi, Iran, Middle East, Middle East Crisis, Satellites, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

[Ryan Robertson]

THERE’S A NEW AIRSTRIP BEING BUILT IN YEMEN–BUT IT’S NOT FOR THE HOUTHIS.
IT’S ON ABD AL-KURI ISLAND, A REMOTE PART OF YEMEN’S SOCOTRA ARCHIPELAGO, AND CONSTRUCTION IS ALMOST DONE. BASED ON AN AP ANALYSIS OF RECENT SATELLITE IMAGERY

THE AIRSTRIP IS STRATEGICALLY VERY IMPORTANT IN THE REGION, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY BEING AFFECTED BY ONGOING CONFLICT. THE RUNWAY WAS FIRST REPORTED BACK IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, IT’S BEING BUILT NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE GULF OF ADEN, A CRITICAL MARITIME ROUTE FOR GLOBAL TRADE THAT THE HOUTHIS STARTED ATTACKING MORE THAN A YEAR AGO

THE RUNWAY SPANS ROUGHLY 1.5 MILES WITH THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT MILITARY AND SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS.

AND SATELLITE IMAGES REVEAL THE WORDS “I LOVE UAE” SPELLED OUT IN PILES OF DIRT NEAR THE AIRSTRIP…A PRETTY BIG CLUE AS TO WHO MIGHT BE BEHIND THE PROJECT

THE EMIRATI GOVERNMENT ISN’T CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE UAE REMAINS ACTIVE IN YEMEN, SUPPORTING THE SAUDI-LED COALITION AGAINST THE IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS AND BACKING THE SOUTHERN TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL, WHICH CONTROLS MOST OF THE SOCOTRA ARCHIPELAGO.

THE UAE DESCRIBES ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION AS HUMANITARIAN AND COORDINATED WITH YEMENI AUTHORITIES. PREVIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, LIKE AIRSTRIPS ON MAYUN ISLAND AND NEAR MOCHA, WERE ALSO LINKED TO EMIRATI ACTIVITY.

ABD AL-KURI IS ABOUT 60 MILES FROM THE AFRICAN COAST AND 250 MILES FROM YEMEN. THE ISLAND SITS WITHIN RANGE OF HOUTHI MISSILES AND DRONES BUT IS FAR ENOUGH FROM THE MAINLAND TO BE DEFENSIBLE AGAINST REBEL INCURSIONS. EXPERTS SUGGEST THE AIRSTRIP COULD BE USED TO MONITOR WEAPONS SMUGGLING FROM IRAN TO THE HOUTHIS OR TO SUPPORT NAVAL OPERATIONS.

THE HOUTHIS INTENSIFIED ATTACKS ON SHIPS IN NOVEMBER, CONNECTING THEIR ACTIONS TO THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT, EVEN THOUGH MANY TARGETED VESSELS HAVE NO TIES TO ISRAEL.THE REBELS USED THE ESCALATING TENSIONS TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA MAY NOT END THE HOUTHIS’ OPERATIONS, WHICH ALSO TARGETED U.S. WARSHIPS IN THE RED SEA.

THE SOCOTRA ARCHIPELAGO, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE REMAINS STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT AFTER DECADES OF GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE. DURING THE COLD WAR, THE SOVIET UNION USED THE AREA FOR NAVAL OPERATIONS.

WHILETHE AIRSTRIP ON ABD AL-KURI ISLAND IS NEARING COMPLETION, ITS FULL ROLE AND IMPACT ON THE REGION REMAIN UNCLEAR.GIVEN THE UAE’S ACTIVITIES AND THE CONTINUING HOUTHI ATTACKS, THOUGH, THE REGION WILL LIKELY REMAIN VOLATILE FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

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