400 tourists get stranded on Socotra after abrupt suspension of all air traffic

SOCOTRA, Jan. 05 (YPA) – Hundreds of foreign tourists are stuck on Yemen’s Socotra Island as flights to and from the country have been suspended amid rising clashes.

Local officials said the group includes more than 60 Russians, as well as citizens from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Poland, China, and Singapore.

Local and international flights have been halted since the state of emergency was declared on December 30, as a result of escalating conflict and intensified confrontations between the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-led coalition-supported Presidential Leadership Council.

The local official added the Socotra airport previously received three weekly flights from Abu Dhabi carrying foreign tourists.

A Western diplomat told AFP that dozens of visitors who traveled to celebrate New Year’s keep stuck, coordinating with their embassies for evacuation.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wiewiór confirmed on X that Polish tourists are among those affected, adding that an Emirati airline has suspended flights until Tuesday.

AA