Satellite imagery analysis and official statements

UAE-Built 1.5-Mile Airstrip Nears Completion on Yemeni Island Amid Houthi Threats

Jan 17, 2025, 09:54 AM

A mysterious airstrip is nearing completion on Abd al-Kuri Island, part of Yemen's Socotra Archipelago near the Gulf of Aden. Satellite photos analyzed by the Associated Press reveal the 1.5-mile-long runway, with designation markings '18' and '36,' and a 950-foot segment still under construction. The airstrip, likely built by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), could serve as a strategic base for military operations and surveillance flights. The runway could play a key role in patrolling vital shipping lanes and interdicting weapons smuggling from Iran to the Houthi rebels, who remain under a U.N. arms embargo. The Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, critical routes for global trade, have seen reduced commercial shipping due to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces. The UAE, which has supported the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, claims its presence on the island is for humanitarian purposes. Notably, dirt near the runway spells out 'I LOVE UAE,' highlighting the UAE's involvement. The development occurs amid Yemen's ongoing conflict, with the Houthi attacks escalating and raising regional security concerns.