Mysterious airbase constructed on Mayun Island off Yemen coast, Yemeni military official informs

Sana: – Satellite photographs of airstrip built on the Yemenis Mayun island, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, were recently published. An official in the Yemen military informed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had built this airstrip and took steps to establish an airbase on the island. Repercussions of this have been felt in the Yemen Parliament; the lawmakers criticised that UAE had breached the trust of the Hadi government. Meanwhile, it will make it easy for the UAE to monitor Iranian ships sailing in the Red Sea along with the Houthi rebels, with this airbase at a strategically important location.

The satellite photographs published by an international news agency of the Mayun Islands were obtained by Planet Labs INC, a company monitoring the ultrasensitive and critical areas worldwide. The photographs clearly show the airstrip built on the Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The Mayun Island, known for its active volcanos, falls in the Yemenis marine region. A 1.85 kilometres long airstrip has been built on this island with a width of 5.6 kilometres. The photographs taken on 11th April show the work being carried out for the airstrip. Whereas, the pictures taken on 18th May show that the work on the airstrip is complete.

Moreover, there are three hangars built for aircraft along the airstrip. The military analysts claim that looking at the length of the airstrip, preparations seem to be for the landing of surveillance or military aircraft. In contrast, the Iranian news agency has accused the UAE of constructing the airstrip. But the Hadi government in Yemen has not reacted to the report.

But an official from the Yemen military, loyal to the Hadi government, said on anonymity, ‘UAE has built the airstrip on the Mayun island and has set up an airbase there. A few weeks ago, a ship from UAE, carrying weapons, military equipment and soldiers, reached the Mayun island.’ Therefore, UAE has set up an airbase on the Mayun island. Repercussions of the photographs and the other related information have been felt in the Yemeni parliament.

In the Yemen parliament, the UAE has been accused of breaching the trust of the Hadi government if it built the airstrip. Currently, two parallel governments are operating in Yemen. The Houthi regime is controlling the Yemenis capital of Sana. Whereas Aden, the economic capital of Yemen, is under the control of President Abed Rabu Mansoor Hadi’s government. The Hadi government is recognised on the international level. For the last five years, militaries of Saudi and the Arab countries are fighting the Houthi rebels in support of the Hadi government. These also include UAE.

In this scenario, a new issue has been raised, given the airstrip. The tension between the Hadi government and UAE is also being exposed with this dispute. A few years ago, UAE had asked the Hadi government to lease the Mayun island for 20 years. There are no details available of any agreement signed to that effect. But it has been exposed that there is a dispute between the Hadi government and UAE supporter gangs in Yemen, participating in the battle against Houthi rebels for the last two years. Saudi had mediated a truce between UAE, its supported gangs and the Hadi government. But the disputes between UAE and the Hadi government in Yemen have surfaced once again over the Mayun island issue.

Meanwhile, as per the military analysts, this UAE airbase on the Mayun island can be strategically vital. This base will make it possible for the UAE to monitor the movement of the Iranian ships in the Red sea. Reports had been received in the past that UAE had started building a military base on the Yemenis Socotra island in the Gulf of Aden. Reports of UAE taking the Israeli tourists to the Socotra island also had been received.