Houthi envoy to Iran confirms Israel presence on Yemen’s islands

The Houthi-led Yemeni government’s Ambassador to Tehran, Ibrahim Mohamed Al-Dailami, has confirmed previously made claims about Israel’s alleged presence on Yemeni territory, specifically on its strategically located islands.

In an interview published yesterday with Tehran Times, Dailami said there is an Israeli presence on Hanish Island, Mayun Island, and Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea.

“This presence is no longer hidden, and aggressors feel no shame for the presence of their military forces on Yemeni lands. So, the first condition of the Yemeni government is the exit of foreign forces as a priority, whether these forces are American, British, Saudi, Emirati or Israeli,” he explained.

According to the Yemeni diplomat, US forces are currently operating at the Al-Anad airbase in the southern province of Lahj and at the airport of Mahra in the east where Saudi forces are also based. He also claimed there is a recent presence of British Rapid Reaction Forces in the Mahra province, which shares a border with Oman.

READ: Houthis to ‘expose Mossad’s activities in Yemen’ after detaining agent

Despite scaling back in military operations, Emirati forces are still present on Socotra Island, Mayun Island, and at Mukalla Airport in the Hadhramaut province, and at Aden Airport, said Dailami.

The de facto, Sanaa-based government has previously condemned the UAE over its activities on Socotra Island and in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, including the illegal transfer of Israeli tourists to Socotra. Following normalisation between UAE and Israel last year, reports surfaced that the two countries were working towards the establishment of a spy base on the strategically-located Socotra Island.

Last week Sayyid Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, formally known as Ansarallah said during a televised speech that the Saudis and other coalition members are colluding with the US and Israel against the Muslim world.

“The injustice done by the US and the Zionist regime constitutes a dangerous threat to the religious beliefs, security, freedom and dignity of the entire Muslim world. There is no doubt that the Saudi regime is in cahoots with the United States and Israel,” he said on Thursday.

“We will liberate our entire country and seize back all areas occupied by the [Saudi-led] coalition of aggression.”

READ: Houthi gov’t slams UAE over Israel tourists on Socotra and air base on Mayun island