The strategy of the Yemeni islands in the Ottoman documents

Abstract

Perhaps the strategic location of Yemen in general, and the Yemeni islands and coasts in particular, are of great importance due to its overlooking the two seas of the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, and its control over the trade routes linking the east with the west, and the natural, agricultural and animal wealth enjoyed by the Yemeni coasts and islands located on the Red Sea. Mineralism made Yemen the object of attention and ambitions of empires and states since ancient times, so that they all sought to have a foothold in this distinguished geographical location, and more colonial ambitions increased in this part of the world, especially since the beginning of the sixteenth century, when Europeans began sending their orientalists and spies to find out the conditions of Yemen and states. surrounding it and then send their squadrons to occupy these sites.
At that time, the Ottoman Empire emerged as an influential power in the world and occupied a large area in the three ancient continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, and controlled the places offered to Muslims by the Two Holy Mosques and Jerusalem. It claimed to represent Muslims as it supervises and controls Muslim holy places. This control gave it the right to represent Muslims before the other world and carry the burdens of protection.
Thus, the responsibility of protecting the Muslims’ lives, their money, and their land was transferred to it in the meantime, and after the aspirations of the Western colonial countries to occupy the Yemeni islands and coasts increased due to their different importance, they discovered their presence and laid down plans and procedures to guarantee their permanence in Yemen, as we will show in this brief research.