Clashes in Yemen UNESCO site threaten rare species

Explosions rocked Yemen's Socotra archipelago, a UNESCO World Herit site, Friday, as an armed unit funded by United Arab Emirates fought to wrest control of provincial capital Hebo, former prime minister and witnesses said.

unit is part of UAE-backed separatist Sourn Transitional Council, which declared self-rule earlier this week in south, sparking fears of new violence in country alrey mired in more than five years of civil war.

goverrs of Socotra and several or sourn provinces rejected self-rule bid and voiced support for President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hi, Yemen's internationally recognized leer who is based in Saudi capital, Riyh.

Witnesses said tanks and artillery pounded mountaius district of Haybat, 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) outside of Hebo early Friday as fighting rd between STC forces and forces loyal to Hi's government. Shells struck residential areas outside Hebo.

A local rio journalist in Socotra said Saudis deployed forces including armored vehicles to stop clashes. He said for weeks government forces h been setting up checkpoints and clashing with STC, carrying out raids and arresting militiamen plotting to take over goverr's office.

He said one government soldier was killed and ors were wounded. “It's first time ever we witness such violence,” he said. “Since dawn, we have been hearing bombings and heavy gunfire." He and or residents spoke on condition of anymity because of fear of retribution.

Socotra Gov. Ramzi Mahrous said in brief comments brocast on state TV that his forces confronted separatist militia and “mand to stop ir vance.”

Former Yemeni prime minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghar, in a post on his official Twitter p, called for help and warned that militia was trying to take control of provincial capital “using all s of heavy weapons.”

fighting threatens to cause irreversible dam to Socotra, designated a UNESCO World Herit site because of its rare Dragon Blood Tree, plant species, spices and marine life, many of which are found where else.

militias who are part of Sourn Transitional Council h been on--ground allies of United Arab Emirates, once Saudi Arabia’s main coalition partner in war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

Last summer, UAE anunced it was ending its role in conflict. However, observers believe Gulf country continues to be active through its proxies. STC raises flag of former communist state in south and has pushed to again split country in two, as it was from 1967 to 1990.

Before its withdrawal, UAE set up a military base in Socotra, which enjoys a strategic location overlooking a vital international shipping lane, and taken control of airport. It awarded Emirati citizenship to hundreds of residents and has recruited scores of ors to help consolidate its grip over island, raising tensions with Hi. After protests from Hi's government, Saudi Arabia deployed forces to island, restoring relative calm.

infighting threatens to exacerbate grinding war in Yemen that has pushed Arab world’s poorest nation to brink of famine and killed over 100,000 people.