Heavy Fighting in Socotra

[Farm]

Clashes in Yemen UNESCO site threaten rare species
By AHMED AL-HAJtoday


SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Explosions rocked Yemen’s Socotra archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Friday, as an armed unit funded by the United Arab Emirates fought to wrest control of the provincial capital Hadebo, the former prime minister and witnesses said.
The unit is part of the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council, which declared self-rule earlier this week in the south, sparking fears of new violence in the country already mired in more than five years of civil war.
The governors of Socotra and several other southern provinces rejected the self-rule bid and voiced support for President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, Yemen’s internationally recognized leader who is based in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Witnesses said tanks and artillery pounded the mountainous district of Haybat, 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) outside of Hadebo early Friday as fighting raged between STC forces and forces loyal to Hadi’s government. Shells struck residential areas outside Hadebo.
A local radio journalist in Socotra said the Saudis deployed forces including armored vehicles to stop the clashes. He said for weeks government forces had been setting up checkpoints and clashing with the STC, carrying out raids and arresting militiamen plotting to take over the governor’s office.
He said one government soldier was killed and others were wounded. “It’s the first time ever we witness such violence,” he said. “Since dawn, we have been hearing bombings and heavy gunfire.” He and other residents spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of retribution.
Socotra Gov. Ramzi Mahrous said in brief comments broadcast on state TV that his forces confronted the separatist militia and “managed to stop their advance.”
Former Yemeni prime minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghar, in a post on his official Twitter page, called for help and warned that the militia was trying to take control of the provincial capital “using all types of heavy weapons.”
The fighting threatens to cause irreversible damage to Socotra, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its rare Dragon Blood Tree, plant species, spices and marine life, many of which are found nowhere else.
The militias who are part of the Southern Transitional Council had been the on-the-ground allies of the United Arab Emirates, once Saudi Arabia’s main coalition partner in the war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Last summer, the UAE announced it was ending its role in the conflict. However, observers believe the Gulf country continues to be active through its proxies. The STC raises the flag of the former communist state in the south and has pushed to again split the country in two, as it was from 1967 to 1990.

Before its withdrawal, the UAE set up a military base in Socotra, which enjoys a strategic location overlooking a vital international shipping lane, and taken control of the airport. It awarded Emirati citizenship to hundreds of residents and has recruited scores of others to help consolidate its grip over the island, raising tensions with Hadi. After protests from Hadi’s government, Saudi Arabia deployed forces to the island, restoring relative calm.
The infighting threatens to exacerbate the grinding war in Yemen that has pushed the Arab world’s poorest nation to the brink of famine and killed over 100,000 people.

Clashes in Yemen UNESCO site threaten rare species

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Explosions rocked Yemen's Socotra archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Friday, as an armed unit funded by the United Arab Emirates fought to wrest control of the provincial capital Hadebo, the former prime minister and witnesses said.

apnews.com

 

[Yahya]

It's okay. Somalia can preserve the dragonblood tree. In sha allah reer PL take the smaller islands while yemen is weak.

 

[Genesis]

Socotra must be annexed

 

[Pipit]

Socotra must be annexed

Why tho? When was it ever somali?

 

[Octavian]

Why tho? When was it ever somali?

For shits and giggles plus they got some fine things over there

 

[Octavian]

more ocean falls under our dominion witch is always good

 

[Octavian]

the closer we are to the straights of Hormuz and Malacca the more money and resources we get access to and since both india and china are planning to control trade in the indian ocean we might ass get our own piece of the pie.

 

[Mad-MullaH]

the closer we are to the straights of Hormuz and Malacca the more money and resources we get access to and since both india and china are planning to control trade in the indian ocean we might ass get our own piece of the pie.

Please go back to sleep..the fasting is getting to you...you cant protect your fish how can you take an Island that is outside of you international water..

 

[Octavian]

Please go back to sleep..the fasting is getting to you...you cant protect your fish how can take a. Island that is outsode of you international water..

yes we can and plus what will yemen do about it anyways

 

[EDsomali]

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

There are like 50,000 people there, what are they fighting over.

 

[Apollo]

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

There are like 50,000 people there, what are they fighting over.

The place is surprisingly multicultural.

They have these populations:

- native Socotris
- mainland Yemenis
- Akhdam types
- some rich GCC Arabs with second homes there
- some Somali fishermen
- some Indian/Sri Lankan fishermen
- tourists from all over the world

 

[Octavian]

The place is surprisingly multicultural.

They have these populations:

- native Socotris
- mainland Yemenis
- Akhdam types
- some rich GCC Arabs with second homes there
- some Somali fishermen
- some Indian/Sri Lankan fishermen
- tourists from all over the world

and some weird ass trees

 

[Tucking_Fypo]

Our peaceful brothers and sisters of Socotra yaa dhex galay oo fitno abuuray inshallah the will solve beef quickly

Guuleysta Socotra iyo Mukallah

 

[Yahya]

Why tho? When was it ever somali?

The land broke off from our land. The topography and the plants that grow there are similar. We used to use the island as a stopping point for trading before the yemenis started fully claiming it, when the british gave it to them like they gave away all key lands we owned.

The yemeni government didn't claim it fully during siad barres time, they started to send more of their ppl after our collapse.

Who knows really. I'm not the expert on this island but like everything it is worth fighting for in the courts at least since we have a case.

 

[Recon Expert]

Why tho? When was it ever somali?

Singapore was originally settled by Malay and today it's 3/4 Chinese. There's nothing with out populating the local population.

 

[Factz]

Singapore was originally settled by Malay and today it's 3/4 Chinese. There's nothing with out populating the local population.

The Malay Muslims still rule Singapore despite Chinese being the majority. The same thing is happening in the UAE because the majority are South Asian but emirate Arabs still rule UAE.