Saudi forces threaten to bomb UAE-backed militias in Socotra
SOCOTRA, June 24 (YPA) – Saudi occupation forces on Wednesday threatened to bomb the UAE-backed southern transitional council militias in Socotra, eastern Yemen, media sources reported.
According to Yemen News Portal, the Saudi duty forces refused to hand over the port and airport of the island to the STC militias forces, pointing out that they had informed the council leaders that any progress towards the port and the airport would be addressed by flight.
A few days ago, the UAE-backed militias took control of the island by storming its administrative center in Hadiboh.
The governor of Socotra’s island loyal to exiled Hadi’s government accused Saudi troops of handing over the island to the STC.
Ramzi Mahroos said that “Saudi forces wanted to pressure the exiled Hadi to stop the fighting in Abyan, so they surrendered Socotra for the southern transitional militiamen”.
He also confirmed that he received guarantees from the Saudi forces to stop the escalation, but they retreated back.
Recent developments indicate that Saudi Arabia, which is trying to please the UAE by handing over Socotra, is also trying to acquire the island’s most important assets from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden as part of a plan to share between the two allies.
E.M