A mysterious airstrip discovered in the Red Sea
Stockholm, October 20 (Hibya) – According to *The Independent*, satellite images reveal that a new airstrip is being built on Zuqar Island, a volcanic outcrop in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. The development is believed to be the latest project of forces allied against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The facility adds another link to the growing network of offshore military bases in a region vital to global shipping. Houthi militants have attacked more than 100 ships during the Israel–Hamas conflict, sinking four and killing at least nine sailors.
Such an airstrip could give a military power extensive aerial surveillance capabilities across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the strategically narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects waterways between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. However, the exact trigger for a possible military deployment remains unknown.
Requests for comment from the United Arab Emirates—known for building similar regional runways—went unanswered. Anti-Houthi groups in Yemen, fractured by internal conflict and unable to mount a unified offensive despite heavy U.S. and Israeli bombardments, also declined to comment.
In recent months, anti-Houthi forces have managed to block more cargoes heading to the Houthis, and a presence on Zuqar could further support those efforts.
British News Agency
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