Tourists stranded on remote desert island after rift between U.S. allies

Around 600 tourists are stranded on Yemen's Socotra after the UAE withdrew troops amid a public rift with Saudi Arabia, and the island's main airport is closed while control shifts.

The United Arab Emirates withdrew its troops from Socotra last week, leaving hundreds of visitors who had flown in unable to depart. Air traffic at the island's main airport has stopped as a diplomatic rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia has translated into new tensions related to Yemen. Socotra had been mainly accessed by air via the UAE and was governed in practice by local forces aligned with Emirati interests. Key facts: - Reuters reporting says roughly 600 tourists are currently on Socotra after the UAE withdrawal. - Sources told Reuters the island's main airport is shut and is no longer under Emirati control, while the Southern Transitional Council remains on the island. - A Yemeni carrier said it would operate a flight to Jeddah on January 7; further arrangements are undetermined at this time. Summary: Tourist departures from Socotra are stalled amid a widening diplomatic rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia that has affected access to the island. A Yemeni airline has announced a flight to Jeddah on January 7, and the status of further travel arrangements is undetermined at this time.