Israeli media have revealed that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are intensifying efforts to establish military and intelligence infrastructure on the occupied Socotra Archipelago.

Al Masirah report

The UAE-occupation of the Archipelago Socotra commenced  when two cyclons hit the Yemeni island in 2018. Under the guise of providing humanitarian assistance, the UAE granted themselves access and started building military bases by forcefully evicting residences and business. Simultaneously, the UAE   has been engaged in a destructive tourism campaign with a detrimental impact on the sensitive fauna of the island, which bears more than 700 endemic species, including the Dragon Blood Tree.

Due to the Saudi/UAE-led, US-BRITISH-BACKED backed embargo on the country, Yemeni cannot visit Socotra. Tourists and military forces from all over the world, including Israel, however, enjoy unlimited access via the UAE and Egypt.