Due to intense fighting between rival armed groups loosely grouped under the Yemeni divided government, which has its headquarters in the southern port city of Aden, flights into and out of Yemen have been largely slowed over the past few days.
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The Southern Transitional Council, which supports Yemen’s government in the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra, is in charge of the Socotra islands, which are located 380 kilometers (236 miles) south of the mainland. It has fought with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government in the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra.
More than 400 foreign tourists are stranded after their flights are “suspended,” according to Yahya bin Afrar, the deputy governor for culture and tourism on Socotra, the largest island in the Socotra archipelago.
On the condition of anonymity, a local official told the AFP news agency that “more than 60 Russians” were among the 416 people of different nationalities who were stranded on Socotra.
“British, French, and American” nationals were also cited as a source of information by an unnamed Western diplomat in a statement released by an unnamed diplomat.
Region with a high degree of instability
Polish tourists are also in trouble, according to Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maciej Wewior in a post on X on Sunday. An Emirati airline had been suspending flights to Socotra until Tuesday.
“Socotra is situated in a highly unstable area with long-standing armed conflict.” The security situation is deteriorating even more right now. Airspace has been closed as a result of the military’s expansion, the post claimed.
At least two Chinese nationals were present, according to a Socotra travel agent.
One Western diplomat claims that tourists who are stuck on the island are now requesting assistance from their embassies in order to be evacuated. Many of them went there for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The diplomat claimed that “their relevant embassies have requested their evacuation from the Saudi and Yemeni governments.”
After lengthy delays that lasted for several days, the airport in Aden has been operational since Sunday.
Promise to bring order back.
Secessionists with the UAE-backed STC’s presence in southeast Yemen last month helped to retake the country’s civil war with the intention of creating an independent state.
However, the Saudi-backed “Homeland Shield” forces successfully seized control of the oil-rich southern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra, which account for nearly half of Yemen’s territory, from the STC rebels this week.
The Houthis, who largely rule northwestern Yemen, including Sanaa, were previously grouped under the umbrella of the Aden-based Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the internationally recognized government’s governing body.
The governor of Hadramout, Salem al-Khanbashi, was appointed as the governorate’s commander on Friday.
Al-Khanbashi stated in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday that the governorate’s ports and airports would soon be operational, stressing the need to restart Seiyun airport’s service in northern Hadramout.
He said meetings will be held with all political and tribal organizations to form a front to defend the governorate from upcoming attacks and promised to restore stability and security.
Source: Aljazeera
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