Mysterious Airstrip Emerges, Not So Mysterious Why Media Omits US Role
Satellite images reveal a new airstrip on Yemen's Zuqar Island, with The Independent musing about potential backers like 'forces opposed to the Houthi rebels' or 'the United Arab Emirates,' even bringing up Russia. Yet, the article conveniently forgets a key detail: the U.S. military has been operating an airstrip on Yemen's Socotra Island, just a short distance away, for years—a fact widely
reported by outlets like The New York Times and The Intercept in 2021 and 2022. The U.S. has maintained a military presence in the region, including logistical and drone operations, often in support of Saudi-led coalitions. The 'mystery' isn't who might be building a new airstrip in a strategic waterway the Houthis have challenged, but why the media works so hard to erase the existing, massive
military presence of Western powers already there. This selective amnesia transforms familiar regional interventions into puzzling new phenomena. One might almost believe these islands are uninhabited until an 'airstrip suddenly appears,' rather than being strategic points for military maneuvers already underway. It's almost as if some actors only become 'forces' when convenient for a narrative,
while others, like the United States, remain unspoken, yet ever-present, orchestrators. The only real mystery is the media's ability to consistently hide entire elephant-sized military bases in plain sight.