Hundreds of tourists stuck on Yemeni island as tensions simmer on mainland

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Approximately 400 tourists are stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra as of January 5, 2026, due to grounded flights. Fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and UAE-linked secessionists on the Yemeni mainland has led to airspace closures and restricted flights. The Socotra islands, controlled by the Southern Transitional Council, are located 380km south of the mainland. The stranded tourists are of various nationalities, including Russian, British, French, American, and Polish citizens. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Emirati airline flights to Socotra are suspended until Tuesday due to the ongoing armed conflict and deteriorating security situation in the region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Russia 30% Yahya bin Afrar 30% Aden 40% Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs 40% Maciej Wewior 40% Hadramout ×250% Southern Transitional Council 60% United Arab Emirates ×270% Saudi Arabia ×370% Yemen ×580% Socotra ×790%

Keywords

yemen 90% stranded tourists 90% socotra 80% flights suspended 70% armed conflict 60% saudi-backed government 60% united arab emirates 50% political instability 50% secessionists 50% airspace closure 40%