UAE completes paving runway of “Israeli” military base in Socotra

SOCOTRA, Dec. 17 (YPA) – The UAE is about to finish paving the joint “Emirati-Israeli” military base in the Yemeni territory of Socotra province, east of the Gulf of Aden.

Satellite aerial images showed the near completion of paving the runway for the Israeli military base, following the UAE’s seizure of land on the island and the displacement of residents during 2020.

The photos showed also the paving of part of the parking yard and the placement of some temporary markings for the runway, which the UAE began building a landing strip for helicopters at the end of 2021.

The runway, which extends from north to south, is about 3 km long and can accommodate attack, surveillance, transport and even some of the heaviest bombers.

Four advanced maritime surveillance centers were established with the aim of expanding the Israeli enemy’s intelligence operations in the southern Red Sea at the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Arabian Sea, including in Abd al-Kuri and Ras Qatnaan, during the past years.

The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) affirmed in November 2023 that Socotra has become a joint Emirati-Israeli military base since 2020, and that Israeli-made sensors have been deployed on Abd al-Kuri Island to confront missiles and drones belonging to Sanaa forces.

Last March, a Pentagon official officially acknowledged the presence of a US military presence on Socotra Island, which is under the control of Emirati and Saudi forces.