The Aggression’s Eye on the Yemeni Worm Waters

Three years of a destructive aggression led by America, Britain, Emirates and Saudi Arabia against Yemen among international compliance, silence and needed political cover of the United Nations. Many people over the world still do not know or realize what great damage has this war inflected on the Yemeni people. Many writers, researchers, politicians and others ignore the agendas of the US-Saudi Aggression on Yemen and the hidden goals not only for Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, but also for Theresa May, Trump and Netanyahu, who stay behind the scenes

It is obvious that the battle is not between Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Sana’a, as much as between Washington and Sana’a, while Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are a frontline of many other frontlines. Likewise, the legitimacy of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who resigned from the presidency, is only a cover used to justify this aggression against Yemen. In reality, Hadi’s legitimacy does not require such aggression. It is not reasonable for American and the Saudi regime to pay hundreds of billions, causing enormous human losses and bearing the moral burden on the world of their crimes for Hadi or the Islah Party, the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen

In fact, the self-evident reality is that Yemen is being invaded and occupied, therefore, the aggression objectives should be look at in the colonizing context. These world powers seek to divide the country and sort it out regionally to occupy its strategic locations. In this research, we consider everything that was given to Yemen, as a geographical region of natural characteristics, that raised its importance and strategic strength enabling it to have the most important features of political and economic power. These features come first in the list of considerations for the US-Saudi Aggression as it has been pointed out by many observers and experts in the political, military and economic affairs

The Yemeni geopolitical, as a location on its own, can transform it into an economic focal point and a political equilibrium that redraws the map of the region and its alliances for the benefit of the Arab and Islamic peoples. The leader of the revolution, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said that “the colonial countries consider the occupation of Yemen as a mean to increase their power and a key to greater control in their favor over the rest of the countries and the rest of the competing forces in the world”

Yemen Strategic Importance

In the map of the world, Yemen in the middle of the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Yemen holds the key to Bab al-Mandab, in the Red Sea, the southern door of the shortest and fastest corridor of international trade between the East and West

To those how doesn’t know, Yemen is a maritime state with a coastline of 2500 km, which extends over the Red Sea more than 450 kilometers, constitutes 8.9% of the total length of the Red Sea coast in general. From the other side, the coast of Yemen extends on the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea overlooking on the Indian Ocean. It is an important feature that reflects the geostrategic location of Yemen in the region.

Yemen’s Ports: A connection between Commercial Terminals and an International Transit Point

Yemen has over 20 coasts, including 6 commercial ports, which are distributed from Al-Hodeidah coast to Al-Mukalla. These ports are: AL-Saleef Port, Al-Hodeidah Port, Al-Mukha Port, Aden Port and Nashitun Port. Yemen, also, has 3 major oil ports: Ash Shahr Port, Balhaf Port and Ras Isa Port. Local ports exceed 14 ports. Yemens’ commercial ports are of great strategic importance as a main link to the trade movement around the world, will examine here the most important ports

Aden Port
Aden used to be known to be the port of the entire Arabian Peninsula, as well as the most important port between The Suez Canal and Bombay. Aden port has significant features, most importantly, a unique geographic location linking the east and the west on the main commercial route around the world.
Aden port is one of the top five natural ports in the world. It has the potential to provide transit services to East Africa, the Red Sea, the Indian Subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf. Aden port has now been disrupted by the invaders for the benefit of Dubai Ports. Previously, it was disrupted by transactions held by Saleh’s government and the UAE.

Al-Mukha port in Taiz
It is one of the oldest ports of the Arabian Peninsula, and one of the most important commercial centers located on the Red Sea. The importance of the port lies in its proximity to the international corridor, 6 kilometers away (3 nautical miles). Also, it is close to the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Sea

Al-Hodeidah Port
Located in the middle of the Yemeni coast on the Red Sea and is one of the most prominent ports overlooking the Red Sea. It is characterized by its a proximity to the international shipping lines, exposure to monsoons and protection from natural waves. Many economic studies have showed the alignment of the Yemeni coastlines to the international shipping lines qualifying the area, extending from Shakra to Al-Mukha, to be a strategic location competing for re-exporting to the Africa continent and others. The Yemeni ports are also suitable to provide various navigational services in the region, which are fought by invaders

The Islands, The Strategic Treasure of Yemen

The two wings of Yemen’s influence in the region are its location in the Arabian Peninsula and the other its overlooking on two seas, a Gulf and an ocean. In this geographical aquatic, many islands are of strategic importance and they are considered by many to be a strategic treasure that enhance the importance of Yemen. The Central Statistical Agency recorded 216 islands, divided into four main sectors: 7 of these islands in the Indian Ocean, 5 islands in the Arabian Sea, 23 more islands in the Aden Gulf and 181 islands in the Red Sea, including 112 on Al-Hodeidah coast only.

The Aggression Targets Yemeni Resources:
Weighing the geographical dominance of Yemen in the region with the objectives of the aggression confirms that the control of this geographical area comes at the top of the list of reasons for the US-Saudi Aggression. Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi explicated the US-Saudi Aggression interest Yemen’s resources and location, in his speech after two years of confrontation with Washington and Riyadh. In his description of the objectives and causes of the aggression, he explains that “This aggression targets Yemen to occupy the most important geographical area in the Arab region and the Islamic world, in terms of its location of overlooking Bab al-Mandab and its islands in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, like Moun, Socotra and other hundreds of islands in this country”
Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, relates the aggression against Yemen to a plot aimed against the region and its people from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This plot also targets progressive counties, countries seeking freedom, countries considered as an obstacle for the colonializing powers and dominating and occupational projects

Strategic location of Moun Island:

Moun Island is located at the center of Bab al-Mandab, controlling and dividing it into two navigational corridors. Its area is 12 kilometers, 3 kilometers away from the Yemeni coast and 20 kilometers from the African coast. Moun is of economic value for its relation to food security on the one hand and its wealth mineral sources on the other hand. Militarily, Moun Island is the most important guard of Yemen and Arab national security against the Western and Zionism dangers

A practical evidence of Moun’s role against Zionists, is the success of the Arab naval forces, coordinated between Yemen and Egypt, in besieging the Zionist forces and preventing their ships from crossing Bab al-Mandab during the October War of 1973. Moun Island was invaded by the Portuguese, then by the French and British, currently invaded by the Emirates and Americans to rob the political, economic and military features offered by this island and to have strong influence over Yemen.

Sira Island:
Sira Island is the most important among the Yemeni islands in Aden Gulf, located in front of Aden as a safe guard for the city and the eastern Gulf. Sira Island plays a strategic role in the resistance of the invaders and the importance of Aden Gulf is its direct link with the Bab al-Mandab.

Socotra Island
Socotra Island is in the Indian Ocean bordered from the North and East by Arabian Sea, from the south by the Indian Ocean and from the West by the Horn of Africa Coast. Socotra is about 3650 square kilometers, five times the size of the Bahrain Kingdom. The nearest point to the island, 380 kilometers away, is Ras Fertik, located in east of Al-Mukalla.
Socotra is the largest Yemeni island and considered as the most important island in the southern sea from several centuries BC. The invaders called it in the past “Dorat Altaj”. It was subjected to the European invasion, conquered by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, conquered by the British in 1834 and then French invaders tried to conquer it in the mid-nineteenth century. The Ottomans and Italians also looked to the island in the 1870s. It is now under the invasion of the Emirates and the Americans and yet waiting for its liberation.

Socotra’s importance lies in the following:
• It overlooks the shipping routes passing from Ras Jord Fuy on the Somalia coast and the Indian Ocean, including the maritime route to the Cape of Good Hope, the Indian subcontinent and East Asia.
• A strong military point of support for the Bab al-Mandab from the south.
• The diversity of its topography and its unique natural vegetal.
• The geology of Socotra has important economic resources such as oil, gas and metal minerals.

Yemen is the key to the southern door of the Red Sea

Yemen is the most important country on the Red Sea because of its possession of a large group of islands on its coast. It is from here that the invaders attempt to occupy an area where islands are divided into four main sectors:

Midi Sector:
It comprises sixty-seven islands, where the most important are Baklan island, located northwest of Kamran island, 30 kilometers away from the Yemeni coast and the Thu Herab island, 90 kilometers from the Midi coast, it overlooks the international shipping corridor in the Red Sea.

Al-Lahea Sector:
It consists of forty-eight islands, the most important island is Tqvash, the largest islands facing Al-Lahea port, an area of 35 square kilometers and 22 kilometers west of Al-Lahea port. It is an island of strategic and economic importance.
Also, Jabal Al-Tair Island which is in the west of Al-Lahea port, 90 km away from the Yemeni coast of Kamran island, it is more than 10 kilometers square and reach a height of 162 meters above sea level. It is characterized as being in the middle of the international shipping line.

Kamaran Sector:
It consists of seventeen islands, the most important is Kamaran Island, which lies west of the Salif port and is about 2,000 meters away from the coast. It covers an area of more than 100 kilometers. The island is strategically, economically and military important for its proximity to the shipping lanes in the Red Sea. It is also a security belt for the Salif port. It has been the focus of the forces for centuries to colonize and use it as a base to reach any part of the Red Sea or its riparian states.

The Zubair Archipelago:
It consists of a group of volcanic islands, 45 kilometers away from the coast of Kamaran Island. It is of strategic importance due to its proximity to the main shipping lanes in the middle of the sea. It can also be as a monitoring center on various maritime movements.

Hanish and Zuqar Sector
It includes thirty-three islands, the most important is the Zuqar island, off the Tahita city. It is 32 kilometers away from the coast and has an area of 185 square kilometers. The island has a regent location on the main navigation lines, with the highest mountain peak in the Red Sea, up to 624 meters above sea level. It is one of the largest islands in the Red Sea. In 1971 the Zionist entity tried to occupy the island and turned it into a military barracks for its colonial project, which is implemented today through the functional systems in the Gulf.

Hanish Archipelago
Located about 135 km north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and its islands are off the coast of Al-Khokha district. Its islands are very close to navigation lines and have an area of about 90 square kilometers. And its highest altitude up to 430 meters above sea level. According to historical sources, the island of Al-anish al-Kabir was invaded four times during the period 1513 – 1995 by the Portuguese, French, British and Eritrean invasions. Before the 1973 war, Zionist entity landed combat units on the island in an unsuccessful attempt to occupy it.

Conclusion
The success of the geopolitical location of Yemen, to achieve useful returns for the country, is linked to the independence of the Yemeni political decision and the overthrow of external tutelage. For that the people of Yemen has taken back their independence in September 2014. That is what made the US-Saudi Aggression forces rush to drop the liberating revolution with all the power of iron and fire they got.

Official References

1. The Yemeni Islands Document from the General Census issued by the Central Statistical Organization 2004.
2. Census data 2004.
3. Census data 1994.
4. Atlas of Yemeni Islands (issued by the General Authority of the Yemeni Islands before being merged with the Ministry of Fisheries).
5.  Integrated public transport system of the Republic of Yemen 2002- 1999.
6. Reports of the Central Statistical Organization for field and office operations for the survey updating maps, statistical frameworks and services of the Republic 2001.
7.  Ports Organization Statistics.

Other References
1. Dr. Abdullah Nejad: The strategic importance of the Yemeni islands, e1, Sana’a. The Moral Guidance Department of the Armed Forces 2005
2. Advisor Hussein Ali al- Hobeishi: Yemen and the Red Sea, Position and location, Contemporary Thought House 1992
3. Dr. Sayed Mustafa Salem: The Red Sea and the Yemeni Islands. History and Issue, e1, the Charter Foundation for Printing and Publishing
4. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Al- Asbahi: View of the Red Sea
* Bab al-Mandab needs independent research and so I left the detail about it in this reading