The Yemeni airline has agreed to operate an initial flight tomorrow to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in an effort to alleviate the flight blockade affecting the island of Socotra. Over 80 Italian citizens have been stranded for several days on Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean under Yemeni sovereignty. The Italian Foreign Ministry and the Italian Embassy in Riyadh, responsible for Yemen, continue to maintain contact with the affected Italian tourists and are pressing regional authorities and airlines to arrange further flights, while ensuring that the airspace remains open.
Since 2018, Socotra has been under the control of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group supported by the United Arab Emirates, in opposition to the internationally recognised Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia. Clashes between the STC and government forces have also resulted in the closure of airspace over Socotra since 1 January, preventing the return of more than 400 foreign tourists.
It should be noted that the Viaggiare Sicuri website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to advise that travel to Yemen, including Socotra, is strongly discouraged.
