The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) teamed together on Monday to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile, the third such occurrence since the start of the month. The Israeli President, on the other hand, was in the UAE for a historic visit.
The attack did not result in any casualties, but it is the latest in a series of massive strikes on Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthi militia this month. The strike was verified by a Houthi official, who said the rebel group had launched missiles and aircraft at "vital" locations in the UAE.
The ballistic missile attack was intended to disrupt Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit, according to the spokesman.
The US military assisted the UAE in deterring the ballistic missile threat, resulting in no injuries or consequence. US President Joe Biden has reportedly been in contact with the UAE and has ordered Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to communicate the support of the US for the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
An Israeli spokesperson confirmed that the Israeli President and his associates were no longer in danger. The visit was able to resume as planned, with Herzog visiting the UAE Prime Minister and Expo 2020 in Dubai.
On Monday, the UAE said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Monday, as Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in the Gulf economic and tourism hub for the first time.
The Houthis’ military spokesman said they fired Zulfiqar missiles at Abu Dhabi and drones at Dubai in the third such strike on the US-allied Gulf state in the previous two weeks. find out more
He urged people and businesses to “remain away from critical headquarters and facilities” in the UAE, which prides itself on being a safe haven for business and a global tourism destination.
The attack, which came after a three-person attack on a petroleum station in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 17, was seen as an escalation of the Yemen war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE.
The attacks, according to a senior Emirati official, were “useless” provocations. In a Twitter post, the official, Anwar Gargash, wrote, “Those who test the UAE are misguided.”
The attacks have caused rare security concerns among some inhabitants in a country where expats make up the majority, but they have had no discernible influence on daily life, with restaurants and beaches filled during the mild winter months.
Market mood in the UAE has weakened as a result of Houthi ballistic missile launches, but economic specialists believe the strikes, which have been generally stopped, have not yet harmed business or investor confidence.
The ballistic missile was intercepted at 20 minutes past midnight, according to the UAE, and its debris fell in an unpopulated region.
It happened during Israel’s president’s visit to the capital, where he met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss security and bilateral relations. find out more
“While Israel’s president is in the UAE building bridges and promoting regional stability, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that endanger civilians,” said US State Department spokesman Ned Price in a tweet.
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