Yemeni rebels attack civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, January 17. Three people were killed. The rebels threatened further attacks.
Drones
Announcing the launch of a military operation dubbed the “Hurricane Yemen”, the Houthis said on their Al-Masra channel that they had “carried out a quality and successful military operation” targeting “critical and sensitive Emirati installations and bases” in the use of ballistic missiles. And drones. “We warn foreign companies, citizens and residents of the hostile state of Emirates to stay away from key locations for their own protection,” Yahya Sari, a Houthi military spokesman, told the channel.
read more: Nine people have been executed by Houthi rebels in Yemen
The previous day, in Abu Dhabi, three tankers had exploded near the storage tanks of the oil company “ADNOC” in Abu Dhabi, killing one Pakistani and two Indians. WAM, the official Emirati agency, reported six injuries.
A “small fire” also broke out in the new construction site of Abu Dhabi International Airport, adding that it was sent from the agency. The explosion and fire were probably caused by “drones” and “flying objects” “falling” in two affected areas, referring to WAM.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks in the past that have never been confirmed by the authorities of the Gulf oil monarchy. They threatened to beat me. The Emirates Foreign Ministry condemned the “terrorist” attack on “public facilities” and warned that “it will not go unpunished”.
The act of “stealing”
The United States, an ally of the Emirates, has vowed to “hold accountable” for the Houthi rebels and condemned the “terrorist attack.” France views the attack as a “threat to the security of the Emirates and the stability of the region.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan have also condemned the attack.
After taking their distance for a while, Emirates has resumed its military support for pro-government forces in Yemen in support of the “Giants” battalion that has captured territory from the rebels. The conflict in Yemen, which has killed 377,000 people, has intensified in recent weeks with an increase in military coalition attacks and ground attacks by government forces. For their part, the rebels have multiplied their missile and drone strikes against Yemen’s neighbor, Saudi Arabia.
The Riyadh-led coalition on Monday announced an increase in the number of “drone bombs fired by Houthis from Sanaa International Airport.” He also claims to have intercepted and destroyed eight drones launched in the direction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
read more: Yemen: The Houthi rebels have been appointed by the Trump administration as a terrorist group
Since the capture of the capital Sanaa in 2014, rebels have been able to capture large areas of Yemeni territory, especially in the north. On January 3, the Houthis seized an Emirati-flagged “Rwabee” boat from the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, claiming it was carrying military equipment. The coalition, for its part, promises to take the equipment to a Yemeni hospital and condemns the “theft” act.
Emirates is part of a Saudi-led military alliance that has supported government forces in Yemen since 2015 in the war against Houthi rebels. Iran, which has close ties to the Emirates, has openly supported the refusal to supply arms to the rebels, blaming its political rivals Saudi Arabia and the United States.
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