A mysterious airstrip being built on a remote island in Yemen is nearing completion, according to satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press. The runway is likely built by the United Arab Emirates, which has long been suspected of expanding its military presence in the region and has backed a Saudi-led war against the Houthis.
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The runway has been paved, with the designation markings “18” and “36" to the airstrip’s north and south respectively. As of Jan. 7, there was still a segment missing from the 2.4-kilometer- long runway that’s 45-meters wide. Trucks could be seen grading and laying asphalt over the missing 290-meter segment.
It’s not the only airfield to see an expansion in recent years. In Mocha on the Red Sea, a project to extend that city’s airport now allows it to land far larger aircraft. Local officials attributed that project to the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The airfield also sits on a similar north-south path as the Abd al-Kuri airstrip and is roughly the same length.
An Emirati-flagged landing craft also was spotted off the coast of Abd al-Kuri in January 2024 and off Socotra multiple other times in the year, according to data analyzed by AP from MarineTraffic.com. That vessel previously has been associated with the UAE’s military operations in Yemen.
Donald Trump United Arab Emirates Israel-Hamas War Houthis United Arab Emirates Government Marco Rubio War And Unrest Associated Press General News William Raillant-Clark International Agreements Mohammed Al-Basha World News Abdul-Malek Al-Houthi
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