News - Yemen: Satellite imagery analysis has identified the rapid construction of a new, large-scale runway on Yemen's western coast in Taiz governorate, a region under the influence of UAE-backed forces.

The construction has raised concerns among security observers about an intensifying strategic competition for control over critical maritime chokepoints. The length of the runway is sufficient to accommodate various military aircraft, suggesting its potential use as an airbase.

This site appears to be the latest in a series of similar infrastructure projects undertaken by UAE-backed forces in Yemen. Recent reports, including from the Associated Press, have highlighted other new runways on islands like Socotra and Mayyun, as well as in mainland areas. Analysis of shipping data by the AP indicated that a Dubai-based maritime company was involved in transporting asphalt to the Socotra site, though the company declined to comment.

Regional security analysts posit that these developments are part of a broader effort to solidify control over Yemen's coastline and adjacent sea lanes, which are crucial for global trade and energy shipments. The construction underscores the complex and fragmented nature of the Yemeni conflict, where various factions, including those backed by rival regional powers, jockey for position.

The Emirati government has not officially commented on the specific runway construction in Dhubab. The ongoing projects highlight the enduring strategic interests of external powers in Yemen and the continued militarization of its territory, even as diplomatic efforts to end the wider civil war have seen intermittent progress.

The UAE participated in the aggressive war on Yemen and took it as a way to achieve its goals in the south of the country. During the nine years of participation, it was convicted of several practices that infringed upon Yemen's sovereignty, security, unity, independence, and territorial integrity.

The UAE sought to gain influence in the Yemeni coastal areas and the south of the country, with the aim of strengthening its presence at the maritime shipping lines in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, towards the Horn of Africa.

The increasing rifts between Saudi Arabia and the UAE prompted the two countries to strengthen their presence in the occupied governorates, as each of them established alliances with Yemeni factions and used them to achieve their goals.