News - Yemen: The UAE is significantly bolstering its military and administrative grip on the island of Socotra, according to local media sources and observers, in moves described as the most assertive since the war began in 2015.

Reports from the archipelago indicate that a senior Emirati-backed militia commander from Aden recently arrived in the main city of Hadibu to oversee the training of new recruits. These recruits are reportedly brought from other southern Yemeni provinces like Lahij and Al-Dhale to be deployed at newly established posts across the island.

Analysts note an "military saturation" strategy, with some sources claiming a disproportionately high ratio of deployed forces to local citizens, indicating a preparation for potential unrest among a population largely resentful of the foreign presence.

The UAE's campaign appears to extend beyond military control. Sources report efforts to alter the island's social fabric, including replacing the Yemeni national curriculum with one promoting loyalty to the Emirati presence, introducing UAE-based telecommunications networks, and even criminalizing the display of the Yemeni flag, treating it as a security threat.

Further reports suggest Socotra is being used as a logistics hub for smuggling weapons to factions in Sudan, notably the Rapid Support Forces, and to UAE-aligned militias elsewhere in southern Yemen. This activity is reported to be coordinated with an Israeli security presence on the island, which Abu Dhabi is seeking to formalize.

These developments follow the UAE's dismissal of 800 local Socotri recruits last September, a move seen as a response to local leaders engaging with Saudi forces on the island. This has heightened fears of deep local divisions and the UAE's use of both hard and soft power to reassert dominance.

With the island reportedly transforming into a closed military zone and witnessing an unprecedented build-up of foreign troops and infrastructure, local sources warn of a potentially imminent explosion of popular anger against the UAE's expanding occupation.

The Yemeni archipelago of Socotra, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique biodiversity, sits in a strategic position near major shipping lanes in the Arabian Sea. While officially part of Yemen, the island has become a point of contestation. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key member of the US-Saudi aggression coalition in Yemen, has maintained a significant presence there, often at odds with other factions, including the Saudi-backed government.