File image.
Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC revealed that the construction of a mysterious airstrip on the Yemeni island of Mayun, which sits on the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, had been completed, the Associated Press (AP) reported on March 29.
The images show the airstrip, which allegedly belongs to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had been painted with the designation markings “09” and “27” in its east and west respectively.
UAE forces landed on Mayun in 2015. The Houthis (Ansar Allah), who were at the time rebelling against the Yemeni government, were quickly expelled from the Island, which oversees one of the world’s crucial maritime routes for both energy shipments and commercial cargo.
In 2016, satellite images showed construction underway there. An attempt by the UAE to build a long three kilometer runway was made and failed.
The UAE announced later in 2019 that it had withdrawn its troops from Yemen. However, AP first reported the construction of the new airstrip on Mayun in 2021.
When the airstrip was first spotted, military officials in Yemen’s Saudi-backed government told the AP that the UAE was behind the construction. According to the officials, Emirati ships transported weapons, equipment and troops to the Island in recent weeks.
After initially denying, the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis acknowledged having “equipment” on Mayun, according to AP’s new report.
The airstrip completed on Mayun has a length of 1.85 kilometers, which is still enough to support cargo aircraft and drones.
The work on Mayun follows the completion of a similar airstrip likely constructed by the UAE on the Yemeni island of Abd al-Kuri, which rises out of the Indian Ocean near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. There have been also unverified reports about a UAE-Israeli plan to build a joint spy base on the strategic Yemeni Island of Socotra, which is held by the Southern Transitional Council, Abu Dahbi’s main proxy in Yemen.
Neither the Yemeni government nor the Houthis appear to be pleased with the UAE’s repeated attempts to establish a lasting foothold on the country’s strategic islands.
AP’s latest report came amid an unprecedented aerial campaign by the United States targeting the Houthis. President Donlad Trump ordered the operation on March 15 in response to the Houthis’ repeated attacks on Israel-linked shipping. It remains unclear if Washington has been receiving intelligence or logistic support from the UAE or any other members of the Saudi-led coalition.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
