News - Yemen: The island of Socotra witnessed widespread protests as residents demanded the withdrawal of UAE occupation forces and the militias of the so-called Southern Transitional Council (STC), which are aligned with Abu Dhabi.

Videos and photos shared by activists on social media on Sunday showed hundreds of Socotra residents demonstrating against the UAE's presence and its associated forces. Protesters decried the UAE's continued occupation of the strategic Yemeni island, located at the intersection of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Since the onset of aggression against Yemen in 2015, Abu Dhabi has imposed complete control over the Socotra archipelago, looting its natural resources, including plants, animals, and marine wealth. The UAE has also reportedly turned parts of the island into military bases and colonies to serve the interests of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

Anger and popular discontent have been escalating across the southern and eastern provinces under occupation due to the collapse of essential services, including electricity. Residents blame the Saudi-Emirati-backed government for failing to provide fuel to operate power plants, leaving citizens to suffer under extreme summer conditions.

The Saudi-Emirati ambitions in Yemen have increasingly faced resistance, with Socotra becoming a focal point of anti-occupation protests. Demonstrations began earlier this year on the island of Socotra, followed by uprisings in Al-Mahra in July, where residents demanded sovereignty over their province and rejected foreign control. The protests later spread to Aden, where the UAE has stationed over 30,000 local fighters loyal to its agenda.

Analysts liken the growing resistance in Yemen’s southern provinces to the anti-British protests of the 1960s, which ultimately led to armed struggles and the eventual liberation of southern Yemen.