Socotra


 * ''See also UAE in the Yemen conflict and UAE Saudi proxy conflict: southern seperatists and Hadi government in exile


 * Socotra Governate (Wikipedia)

UAE strategic and military presence on island of Socotra

 * Wikipedia:UAE takeover of Socotra
 * Socotra - Global Security
 * Socotra island: The Unesco-protected 'Jewel of Arabia' vanishing amid Yemen’s civil war - The Independent, May 2, 2018
 * Does UAE seek to colonize Yemen's Socotra island? - PressTV, May 7, 2018
 * The UAE has been vying over Socotra’s inhabitants by first building a military base, an intelligence communications center and even conducting a census
 * Yemen government accuses UAE of landing separatists on remote island of Socotra - MEE, May 9, 2019
 * Turkey concerned by Yemen’s territorial integrity after UAE’s Socotra move - Daily Sabah, May 11, 2018
 * FEATURED: Mass demonstrations against UAE occupation rock Socotra - Uprising Today, July 1, 2019
 * Al Mazrouei returns to Socotra as a prelude to an Emirati coup in Al Jazeera - Teller Report, September 14, 2019
 * Island sheikh talks sovereignty in Yemen's war - Hannah Porter, Al-Monitor, October 2, 2019
 * UAE Is Pushing Its Militias In Yemen To Escalate Against The Legitimate Government - UAE Leaks, April 28, 2020
 * Emirates deploys loyalist troops for last infighting in Socotra - Debriefer, April 28, 2020
 * Media advisor to the Yemeni information minister sees that "the Emirati statelet's hungers go beyond mere seizure of Socotra, as they want Aden port, water passages, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and strategic areas.


 * UAE aid helps Socotra development - Emirates 24/7, June 29, 2020
 * Abu Dhabi replaces Socotra Yemeni web, telecom system with UAE one - Debriefer, August 25, 2020

US Presence

 * US marines arrive on Yemen’s Socotra to support UAE forces - Middle East Monitor, March 9, 2020
 * US Marines Arrive on Yemen’s Socotra to Back UAE Troops: Reports - Tasnim News Agency, March 10, 2020
 * What Uncle Sam Really Wants in Yemen - Jeremy Kuzmarov, Huff Post, November 20, 2017
 * During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had access to Socotra as a base and Russia still allegedly covets access to the island today. The United States has had its eye on it since the end of the Cold War, choosing it in 1999 as the site to build a signals intelligence system. In 2010, David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, held a meeting with then Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh in which Saleh allegedly allowed the U.S. to set up a military base on Socotra from which to launch seaborne missiles and possibly drone strikes to counter “pirates and Al Qaeda.”

2020 Defections, escalations between pro-Hadi factions and pro-STC

 * Socotra: Saudi commander oversees dismissal of UAE-backed coast guard defectors - Al Masdar Online, February 6, 2020
 * Defection of military units from gov't forces in Socotra - Debriefer, April 14, 2020
 * Islah party militias prevent UAE money flow to Socotra - Yemen Press Agency, April 20, 2020
 * Yemen: UAE-backed separatist group announces self-rule in south - Middle East Monitor, April 26, 2020
 * Saudi Arabia seeks impose its authority in Yemen's Socotra, STC defies - Debriefer, May 3, 2020
 * Saudi-led militants start takeover of Yemen’s Socotra after fierce infighting - Press TV, May 4, 2020
 * BATTLES FLARE BETWEEN SAUDI-BACKED AND UAE-BACKED FORCES TO CONTROL ISLAND OF SOCOTRA - Southfront, June 21, 2020

STC assume control

 * Yemen's STC separatists expel northerners from Socotra following takeover - MEE, June 25, 2020
 * UAE ‘occupation forces’ appoint governor on Yemen’s Socotra Island - Middle East Monitor, September 3, 2020

UAE building Sigint capacity: Allegations, post UAE-Israel normalization
''See also Yemen, Talk:Socotra
 * Israeli Navy sets up military telecom network in Socotra - Yemen Press Agency, August 14, 2020
 * The sources indicated that the UAE transported the Israeli military equipment via ships belonging to “Khalifa Humanitarian Foundation” to complete the process of establishing a military base on the island.


 * Abu Dhabi replaces Socotra Yemeni web, telecom system with UAE one - Debriefer, August 25, 2020
 * Beside Emiratis, these teams include a great deal of foreign experts and have worked day and night for nearly one week, under direct supervision from the Emirati representative in Socotra, Khalfan al-Mazroei, they added.


 * Secret normalization agreement clauses disclosed - Emirates Leaks, August 27, 2020
 * UAE And Israel Plan To Create Intelligence Bases On Yemen’s Socotra Island - SouthFront, August 28, 2020
 * UAE and Israel to establish spy base in Yemen Island - Middle East Monitor, August 28, 2020
 * See note for more on the sources for the reports Talk:Socotra


 * Sheikh warns against risk of losing Socotra its Yemeni identity, sovereignty - Yemen Press Agency, September 2, 2020
 * In a press statement on Tuesday, he warned that “Saudi Arabia and UAE have allowed the Zionist entity to enter Socotra, as part of the occupation process to separate it from Yemen.” Sheikh confirmed that the occupation made demographic changes to Socotra through bringing settlers to the island. It also destroyed environmental landmarks and established camps in important and strategic areas.


 * Coalition changes name of Island of Abd al Kuri into Kilmia - Yemen Press Agency,September 6, 2020
 * Yemen: Popular anger escalates over UAE’s occupation of Socotra - Emirates Leaks, September 6
 * A Yemeni government source confirmed the arrival of an Emirati ship to the Yemeni port of Socotra, bearing the name “Ed Astra”. The nature of contents are unknown.


 * Yemen MPs say obtained information UAE is building bases on Socotra - Debriefer, September 8, 2020
 * UAE establishes new illegal military post on Socotra - Emad Almasarshi, Hodhod Yemen News Agency, December 23, 2020
 * Yemen: The UAE is trying to enter Yemen through the occupation, under the cover of legitimacy. Abu Dhabi imposed its will on Yemen's sovereign decision, in order to enable it to exploit the country's resources, and beyond that, the violations became continuous and did not stop all day. - Al Masirah, March 31, 2021
 * Israel tourists flock to Socotra part of illegal UAE-run holidays - Middle East Monitor, May 19, 2021
 * Report Says UAE Setting Up Military Base Off Yemen Coast Under Israel Supervision - Fars News Agency, November 26, 2021
 * On September 15, Yemen News Agency, citing local sources, reported that the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates had signed a contract to create an intelligence center for the Israeli Air Force at Socotra Airport.

Responses

 * Yemen's Houthis claim they targeted UAE ship as 'warning' to Israel - analysis - Jerusalem Post, January 5, 2022
 * ... ''Iranian media has also spread rumors in the past about Israel working with the UAE, including allegations by Press TV “Israel espionage alliance on Yemen’s Socotra island.” ...

Abd al Kuri island: Reports

 * UAE occupation forces change name of Island of Abd al Kuri to “Kilmia” - Al-Thawra, September 7, 2020
 * Socotra: UAE seeks to establish military bases on the Islands of Abdul Kuri and Samaha - Yemen Press Agency, Oct 26, 2020
 * UAE setting up military base off Yemen coast under Israel supervision, report says - Faraan, November 25, 2021

Perim, (Mayyun) Island
See UAE in the Yemen conflict

Seizure of coalition cargo from Socotra
Dec 3: The UAE flagged cargo ship 'Rabwee' was intercepted by NSG naval units as it sailed past Hodeidah overnight on its course from Port of Habidu (Socotra) towards Jizan (KSA). Although, a coalition spokesman said it had been carrying medical supplies from an abandoned field hospital, footage released on Ansarallah media channels revealed it was carrying Saudi military equipment.

Saudi forces had reportedly handed over equipment to STC forces in the Habidu area in mid-November, in an apparent pullout.
 *  The Saudi forces present in Morey area and Socotra port suddenly transferred their military vehicles and handed them over to the UAE-backed militias (affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council), according to the sources.

Sana'a channels later released some footage of the military cargo and documents from recent voyages of the Rabwee.

See talk:Socotra for more sources.

Analysis

 * UAE-Israel intelligence base on Yemeni island of Socotra - Najla M. Shahwan, FrontierPost, September 6, 2020
 * Israel and the UAE Hope to Turn Yemen’s Remote Islands into an Intel Gathering Hub - Ahmed Abdulkareem, Mint Press, September 10, 2020
 * Yemen: STC kidnaps Socotra officials opposed to UAE, Israel occupation - Middle East Monitor, September 11, 2020
 * UAE snubs Saudi Arabia to cooperate with Israel in Socotra, Yemen - Randi Nord, Geopolitics Alert, September 19, 2021
 * UAE, ISRAEL TO ESTABLISH SPY BASE ON YEMEN’S SOCOTRA ISLAND. AGAIN? - Southfront, February 20, 2021
 * What the UAE takeover of Yemen’s islands really means Arwa Mokdad, Responsible Statecraft June 14, 2021
 * UAE-Israeli Annexation of Socotra is Most Significant ME Occupation Since 1967 - CJ Werleman, Inside Arabia, October 5, 2021