Yemen Monitor / Taiz / Exclusive:
Forces loyal to the Yemeni government, backed by the UAE, have completed an airstrip believed to be “military” south of the strategic city of Mocha. This comes as American media outlets indicate preparations for the start of a military operation against the Houthis along the coast and from the south and east.
According to satellite images reviewed by Yemen Monitor on April 4, the military airport is located in the “Bani Al-Hakam” area of the Dhubab district, near Bab al-Mandab strait. Meanwhile, construction at a military airport on Yemen’s Mayun Island—previously initiated by the UAE—has come to a halt and appears to require significant maintenance before becoming operational.
“Yemen Monitor” tracked the progress of the military airport construction via the European satellite “Sentinel-2 L2A” since its commencement in July 2023, noting a slowdown in work.
However, the construction of the runway accelerated after last November, following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections – as the images suggest.
On April 4th, the completion and layout of the runway are visible, along with what appear to be aircraft hangars, often used in airbases as shelters for aircraft and designed to be fortified, as well as accommodation for soldiers and base personnel. Other facilities typically found in civilian airports are absent.
It appears the airbase was in use on April 2nd. An Emirati military transport aircraft (CASA C-295) was tracked from Zayed Military Air Base in Abu Dhabi, stopped at a military base at Al Rayyan Airport, and arrived in the Bab al-Mandab area, with its identification facilities turned off. It is unknown whether its destination was the new airport or Mocha Airport ((Hex ID:896c45 /(Callsign:LORD54)/ Squawk:1751)).
Meanwhile, the UAE has already completed the construction of a runway on the island of Abd al-Kuri, part of the Socotra archipelago. Satellite images confirm the full completion of the project.
On Sunday, CNN quoted regional diplomatic sources saying that preparations are underway for a ground operation from the south and east, and along the coastline. The coordinated attack may also involve naval support from Saudi Arabia and the US in an attempt to recapture the port of Hodeidah.
Analysts do not expect the US to deploy any ground troops, except for a small number of special forces to help direct airstrikes. The U.S. may provide [Yemeni forces] with “some logistical support and some key munitions,” according to Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.
He added that the UAE would be “secretly supportive” of ground operations. Abu Dhabi supports the forces of Tariq Saleh, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council and the nephew of the former Yemeni president, who is based in the Mocha area.
Yemen Monitor was unable to reach the Joint Forces led by Tareq Saleh for immediate comment.
