American website: The mysterious airport of "Abd al-Kuri" island is now fully operational

The American website, The Maritime Executive , said that the mysterious airport on Abd al-Kuri Island in the Socotra Archipelago in Yemen is now fully operational.

The site reported that on February 16, the Sentinel 2 satellite captured a large transport plane on the northern end of the runway. With the accuracy available to ordinary users, the plane's configuration and wingspan are consistent with a C-17 transport plane.

The "missing" portion of the runway at its northern end has been finished with concrete and now has white painted runway markings similar to those applied to the rest of the runway. This section of the runway appears to have been built with concrete to support the weight of heavy aircraft such as the C-17 when they hit the runway on landing.

Completing the entire runway in concrete to support such a load would have been a major logistical challenge, given the lack of construction infrastructure and raw materials (including water) on the island.

Over the past few weeks, the airport has seen a regular visitor in the form of a smaller aircraft with a wingspan of less than 25 metres, which stops on the apron during its short stay, the site said.

It is not known where this aircraft is permanently based, or where apparent operational activity on the island is being supported. The new infrastructure may need to be protected by a garrison, which in turn will need to be resupplied.

Iranian arms supplies to the Houthis using sea lanes north of Abd al-Kuri appear to have resumed—if they ever stopped.

On January 28, the US Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr (WPC 1147) intercepted the) A dhow in the Arabian Sea, carrying a shipment of ballistic missile components and unmanned naval aircraft, in addition to military communications and network equipment and anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies.

From the analysis of the materials seized on the dhow, it appears that the shipment was destined for the Houthis.

On February 12, the Yemeni Coast Guard intercepted a ship carrying a 40-foot container ship bound for Hodeidah. It contained cruise missile hulls, jet engines used in cruise missiles, suicide drones, reconnaissance drones, naval radars, a modern electronic warfare jamming system, and an advanced wireless communications system.

If reconnaissance activities are being conducted from Abdul Kuri, this would assist in further interception operations.