copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Somalia (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-04-22): Every day, over three million barrels of oil travel from the Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Ships navigating this route travel westward through the Arabian Sea into the Gulf of Aden, then turn north, entering the Red Sea via the narrow pass at Bab el-Mandeb before proceeding on to the Suez Canal. The Socotra archipelago occupies a critical strategic position en route to Bab el-Mandeb, the most vulnerable chokepoint on this key energy transit corridor. Socotra's central location also makes it an ideal launch point for interdicting pirates and smugglers.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Somalia (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-04-30): In March, as Yemen’s Houthis continued to launch attacks in the Red Sea, the AP reported on the construction of an airstrip in Abd al-Kuri, a small island of the Socotra archipelago in Yemen. While no state confirmed responsibility for the airstrip, the most obvious candidate was the United Arab Emirates—which has relied on similarly undisclosed outposts over the past decade to further its military, security, and economic goals in the region.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Somalia (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2015-11-10): According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the agency sanctioned by the World Meteorological Organization for issuing official tropical cyclone bulletins for the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Megh was a strong Category 2 or Category 3 on Nov. 8 near the time it made a direct hit on the main island of Socotra, about 150 miles east of the Horn of Africa in the central Arabian Sea that is a part of Yemen. The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified Megh as a Category 3 equivalent near the time it hit Socotra. [...] After making a direct hit on Socotra and then brushing northeast Somalia, satellite imagery showed that Megh became less organized due to land interaction, dry air and cooler sea-surface temperatures. The IMD and JTWC classified Megh as a tropical storm as it moved into mainland Yemen just northeast of Aden on Nov. 10.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-08): Socotra (/səˈkoʊtrə, soʊ-, ˈsɒkətrə/;[1] Arabic: سُقُطْرَىٰ Suquṭrā) or Saqatri (Soqotri: ساقطْري Saqaṭri) is an island of Yemen in the Indian Ocean.[2][3] Lying between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea and near major shipping routes, Socotra is the largest of the six islands in the Socotra archipelago. Since 2013, the island has been part of the Socotra Archipelago Governorate. [...] Since Yemeni unification in 1990, Socotra has been a part of the Republic of Yemen, affiliated first to Aden Governorate. Then in 2004, it was moved to be a part of the Hadhramaut Governorate. Later in 2013, it became a governorate of its own. [...] Geography [edit]Socotra is one of the most isolated landforms on Earth of continental origin (i.e. not of volcanic origin). The archipelago was once part of the supercontinent of Gondwana and detached during the Miocene epoch, in the same set of rifting events that opened the Gulf of Aden to its northwest.[28] Culturally and politically, the island is a part of Yemen, but geographically it belongs to Africa as it represents a continental fragment that is geologically linked to the continental African Somali Plate.[29]
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-05): Days into COP28 in Dubai, one little-known archipelago has come into sharp relief: Socotra. Composed of four small Yemeni islands, Socotra has been in the sights of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ever since the civil war in Yemen erupted in September 2014. The UAE has been part of the Saudi-led coalition – backed logistically by the United States – against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels since March 2015, but Socotra has been spared by the civil war and Houthis thus far. [...] In 2011-12, protests in Hadiboh, the island’s largest town – remarkably recounted by the anthropologist Nathalie Peutz – echoed the slogans heard in the Yemeni cities of Sana’a and Taiz calling for political reform and the end of the regime and its corruption. Internet access has since been on the rise, with locals shifting into two camps: those claiming for a Socotran governorate, and those demanding autonomy from the central government. Little by little, political awareness took root. Competing councils opposed official authorities, perceived as corrupt and inefficient: these councils mirrored the party politics’ divisions of the mainland. In 2013, Socotra became a governorate on its own, since it was previously under the administrative authority of Hadhramawt (Eastern Yemen) and, before, the Southern port city of Aden.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-01-30): Socotra, which is located in the Arabian Sea just below Yemen has roughly over 42,000 inhabitants in an area of 3,796 square kilometers. This means the island is "barely inhabited!" [...] Being part of Yemen, Socotra has suffered the collateral damage of being part of a country that has been at war for over five years now. But, Socotra itself has never been at war and it is very safe. [...] Given that Socotra is located in the Middle East, is part of Yemen (which is at war), and is suffering a power grab by outside forces, it’s possible the peaceful panorama the island has kept in the last decade could change in an instant and affect your travel plans.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-01): Socotra is an out-of-this-world island sitting within the four-island Socotra Archipelago in the Arabian Sea. The island became a territory of Yemen in 1967 when the island joined the Democratic People’s Republic of Yemen, or better known as South Yemen. [...] - The archipelago consists of four islands. The largest being called Socotra. The other three are Abd al-Kuri, Samhah, and Darsa. [...] The way of life is completely different out there. During my travel to Socotra, Socotra of course had a very negative connotation held to it being a territory of Yemen. So much so, that shortly after I returned home from the trip I learned to not share with people that I had traveled to Socotra and especially not in mainland Yemen.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2018-05-03): Socotra island: The Unesco-protected 'Jewel of Arabia' vanishing amid Yemen’s civil war [...] Now it looks as though Yemen could lose Socotra completely, anger is growing, and Yemeni politicians are speaking out. [...] YemenYemeni Civil WarSocotraUAEAbu DhabiSaudi ArabiaRiyadhHouthisclimate changeConservation
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2018-09-08): Socotra Archipelago is in the northwest Indian Ocean, near the Gulf of Aden. It comprises four islands and two rocky islets which appear as a prolongation of the Horn of Africa. These isolated and almost inviolate islands lie between three biogeographic regions, African, Oriental, and Palearctic, forming a living laboratory which has preserved intact unique endemic ecosystems, a bizarre xerophytic flora, and a traditional culture living in balance with the environment. The coastal landscapes are varied: seacliffs, wave-cut platforms, fossil reef, cobble beaches, sandy beaches, raised beaches, and lagoons. Limestones are present, forming an extensive desert platform. There are also granitic mountains with maximum altitudes of about 1500 m. [...] UNEP/WCMC (United Nations Environmental Programme/World Conservation Monitoring Centre) (2008) Socotra Archipelago Yemen. Report, Cambridge, UK [...] Zajonz U, Lavergne E, Klaus R, Krupp F, Aideed MS, Saeed FN (2016) The coastal fishes and fisheries of the Socotra archipelago, Yemen. Mar Pollut Bull 105:660–675
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-11-29): Protecting biodiversity protects against climate change. Nowhere is the fragile nature of biodiversity better illustrated than the archipelago of Socotra in the Republic of Yemen, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Nature Site in 2008. [...] The Socotra archipelago consists of four islands (Socotra, Abd al-Kuri, Darsa, Samha) and two rock islets. Lying 200 miles from the mainland coast of Yemen, It is recognized as one of the world’s five most biodiverse islands with an Outstanding Universal Value due to its unique flora and fauna. Thirty-seven percent of its 825 plants are native to the island; Socotra hosts 11 unique bird species; 90 percent of its reptile species and 95 percent of its land snail species are found only on the archipelago; its diverse marine life includes 253 reef-building corals and 730 species of coastal fish. All component areas of Socotra have been granted legal environmental protection on both land and surrounding sea by the World Heritage Committee (WHC). [...] The UAE, likewise, expanded the island’s only airport at the capital city, Hadibo, built military bases, and installed several telecommunication towers and two signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems. The UAE’s ambition in the occupation of Socotra is to dominate the surrounding strategic maritime shipping routes and establish a tourism industry. Its occupation violates Yemeni sovereignty under international law and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-12-14): The Socotra Island is part of the Socotra Archipelago, which is officially one of the governorates of Yemen. [...] Socotra, an archipelago located 150 miles off the Horn of Africa in the Gulf of Aden, is officially part of Yemen. Socotra Island makes part of a group of four islands, and it’s the largest one in the Socotra Archipelago. [...] Socotra has been part of Yemen since the country was formed in 1990 with the unification of North and South Yemen. Before 1990, Socotra was under the control of South Yemen, which was a Marxist state known as the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-06-01): The island of Socotra, part of Yemen’s Socotran Archipelago, has long been a niche obsession for travel enthusiasts and academics. Its unique species, breathtaking, undeveloped landscapes and iconoclastic local culture have earned it the nickname "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean". Bloggers have called it the Arabian Sea’s hidden jewel, or "the most alien-looking place in the world". [...] Officially part of war-torn Yemen, the island, awarded UNESCO heritage status in 2008, is geographically closer to Somalia on the African mainland and politically closer to the oil-rich kingdoms of the Arabian Peninsula. The name ‘Socotra’ is either translated as ‘paradise’ or ‘emporium of resin’. What we learnt was that there are, in effect, two Socotras to visit. There is the almost mythological island with its Martian landscapes, endemic plant and animal species and natural history. Then there is the Socotra of modern Yemen, with all the associated challenges of isolation and dependence on foreign assistance.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-08-15): Off Yemen's southeast coast in the Indian Ocean is the archipelago of Socotra. You've probably never heard of it, but it's often referred to as "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean," and for good reason. That's because Socotra — which is comprised of four islands and two rocky islets — is home to spectacular flora and fauna you'll find nowhere else on Earth. Socotra is part of Yemen, the Middle Eastern country that is currently mired in a civil war that has been ongoing for seven years. The islands are located 250 miles (402 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen and about 60 miles (96 kilometers) off the coast of the Horn of Africa. The main island of Socotra, which is the largest and most diversified, is comprised of rugged plateaus at varying sea levels. Its vegetation features dry and succulent shrublands and semi-evergreen woodlands, as well as evergreen woodlands and grasslands. The other islands are drier and more arid. Aside from the island's endemic plant and animal species, Socotra is home to around 60,000 people who live on the main island. They have been living on these islands for millennia, and speaking their own Socotri language. The islands have been part of trade routes for centuries and there are artifacts on the islands from sailors dating back to the first century B.C.E.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2023-04-20): Nature and people in the Socotra Archipelago The Socotra Archipelago is a true treasure of Yemen, located in the western Indian Ocean near the Horn of Africa. This ancient and until recently relatively isolated part of the Arabian Peninsula is known for its exceptional biodiversity on land and in the sea. Socotra’s iconic Dragon’s Blood Trees are known worldwide and symbolize a close bond between nature and the indigenous inhabitants of the island who depend on it, and who speak their unique, endangered language. Due to its remarkable and highly vulnerable island ecosystems containing many endemics, the Socotra Archipelago was designated as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve in 2003, a Ramsar Site in 2007 (Detwah Lagoon) and then as UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 2008. These remarkable designations came primarily as recognition of Socotra’s outstanding biodiversity richness, characterised by a high proportion of unique species living in special island habitats. In addition, the cultural landscape of Socotra has been gently shaped through natural and human influences over several millennia. However, a recent decline of that vital bond, combined with the devastating effects of climate change, unsustainable resources use and other impacts, have affected life on these islands for humans, plants and animals alike. This richly illustrated publication, based on the currently available scientific knowledge and stories from the island’s inhabitants, provides a brief overview of the rich biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, highlighting the vital bond between humans and nature.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-08-13): The Socotra Archipelago in Yemen has long been a land of mystery. [...] The Socotra Archipelago lies in the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa being located some 240km east of Cap Guardafui (Somalia) and some 380km south of Ras Fartak, (Al Mahrah, Yemen). Along with its neighbouring islands: Abd Al-Kuri, Samha and Darsa, it forms the Socotra Archipelago: one of the most bothanically diverse island groups in the world.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-02-25): Standing on a rocky outcrop on the north-western tip of the Yemeni island of Socotra, the only signs of life that I could see were shoals of fish undulating beneath me in the turquoise water. To the west, the horizon shimmered pink over the ocean, a phenomenon caused by the dusty Arabian atmosphere. From the east rising towards the north, jagged granite peaks framing 80m-high sand dunes fell away into the shallows. [...] Marooned between Somalia and Yemen where the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean meet, the Socotra archipelago is one of the most isolated continental fragments on Earth – a piece of Africa adrift at sea. The high proportion of endemic flora here have led some to label this Unesco World Heritage site the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean". More than one-third of Socotra's 825 plant species and 90% of its reptile species don't live anywhere else in the world, and gazing up at the islands' surreal, umbrella-like dragon's blood trees and down at thousands of bright blue and red freshwater crabs that scurry in the twilight, it can feel like you're on another planet.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-09-01): The history of Socotra describes the cultures, events, peoples and strategic relevance for sea trade of what is Socotra, an island of the Republic of Yemen, currently under control of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Southern Transitional Council, a secessionist participant in Yemen's ongoing civil war.[1] Lying between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea and near major shipping routes, Socotra is the largest of the four islands in the Socotra archipelago. [...] 20th century–present [edit]In October 1967, in the wake of the departure of the British from Aden and southern Arabia, the Mahra Sultanate was abolished. On 30 November of the same year, Socotra became part of South Yemen. Since Yemeni unification in 1990, Socotra has been a part of the Republic of Yemen. [...] - ^ Republic of Yemen, Socotra Archipelago, Proposal for inclusion in the World Heritage List - UNESCO, January 2006.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-08-04): Socotra Archipelago, Yemen’s captivating and remote Socotra Archipelago is a series of islands tucked away in the turquoise seas of the Arabian Sea. Socotra, sometimes called the "Galápagos of the Indian Ocean," is well known for its incredible biodiversity, surreal scenery, and rich cultural legacy. Adventurers looking for unspoiled natural beauty and a peek into a distinct way of life are becoming more and more interested in this alluring location. Four major islands make up the Socotra Archipelago, which is situated 380 kilometers (240 miles) south of the Arabian Peninsula and roughly 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of the Horn of Africa: Abd al Kuri, Samhah, Darsa, and Socotra. [...] Travelers can have an unparalleled and amazing experience in one of the world’s most biodiverse and culturally diverse locations with the Socotra Archipelago, a genuine hidden gem. With its surreal scenery, unique fauna, and rich cultural legacy, Socotra enthralls the senses and makes an enduring effect on everyone who visits. This isolated oasis is still welcoming visitors today, a monument to the power of the natural world and the tenacity of its inhabitants.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-01-18): Socotra Archipelago, in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden, is 250 km long and comprises four islands and two rocky islets which appear as a prolongation of the Horn of Africa. The site is of universal importance because of its biodiversity with rich and distinct flora and fauna: 37% of Socotra’s 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world. The site also supports globally significant populations of land and sea birds (192 bird species, 44 of which breed on the islands while 85 are regular migrants), including a number of threatened species. The marine life of Socotra is also very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp. [...] De Socotra-archipel is 250 km lang en bestaat uit vier eilanden en twee rotsachtige eilandjes die een verlenging vormen van de Hoorn van Afrika. De groep eilanden ligt in het noordwesten van de Indische Oceaan in de buurt van de Golf van Aden. Er is een schat aan flora en fauna: 37% van Socotra’s 825 plantensoorten, 90% van z'n reptielensoorten en 95% van z'n landslakkensoorten komen nergens anders ter wereld voor. Ook zijn er aanzienlijke hoeveelheden land- en zeevogels (192 soorten vogels) waaronder een aantal bedreigde soorten. Verder kent Socotra 253 soorten koralen, 730 soorten vissen en 300 soorten krabben, kreeften en garnalen.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-01-12): Yemeni separatists seize island of Socotra from Saudi-backed government [...] Yemeni separatists have seized control of the island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea, deposing its governor and driving out the forces of the Saudi-backed government, which condemned the action as a coup. On Saturday, the STC announced it had seized government facilities and military bases on the main island of Socotra, a sparsely populated archipelago which sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2019-10-23): What if I told you that this island is in fact real, and not just a figment of your imagination. Its name is Socotra, and it is located at the edge of the Arabian Sea. It lies approximately 150 miles west of the Horn of Africa, and 240 miles south of the Arabian Peninsula. Socotra, in fact, is one of the most isolated islands on Earth that did not originate from a volcano, but rather separated from an ancient continent. It is a territory of Yemen, and at present, nearly impossible to get to. [...] Sadly, Socotra Island has never been an easy destination to get to. In the recent past, pretty much the only option was flying to Yemen’s largest city Sana’a, and taking a connecting flight from there to Hadiboh, Socotra’s capital. The number of flights however was quite limited. There were also a few direct flights departing from Dubai in the UAE, but these too were in very small numbers. At present, Socotra Island is inaccessible to visitors from near and far for all flights to Hadiboh have been cancelled. The main reason for that is the current civilian crisis and ongoing civil war in Yemen.
Claim: Socotra Archipelago is a territory of Yemen (Socotra Archipelago, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-08-26): It seems quite unlikely that the TCS coup could have taken place without the prior approval of Riyadh. Did the Emirates make a deal with their allies whereby the separatists could take over Socotra? In any case, this is the belief of the Committee elected by the peaceful sit-in on the Socotra Archipelago, assembling the island’s tribal dignitaries. The movement held a meeting on 25 March 2021 at Halaa Deedom in a cave in the range of coastal mountains. Huge rugs were laid on the ground for the event. Elders and younger men greeted one another rubbing noses. In whispers they spoke of "the occupation, outside interferences and the militias." A banner was unfurled: "Socotra is part of Yemen and will be forever". On the beach below, kettles of cooking meat attracted a sky full of big vultures. Ali Saad finally arrived, wearing his red turban. The engineer got a warm welcome. After making the rounds of the guests, he stood up and gazed at the horizon with a worried look on his face. Several men in fatigues, carrying Kalashnikovs, were coming towards the cave. Down below, several police pick-ups were waiting.