Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim suspected drone strike on UAE capital

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, said they had targeted Abu Dhabi in retaliation for a recent escalation by the United Arab Emirates in Yemen, where last week emirate-backed militants killed Houthis in an unexpected raid in the oil-rich province of Shabwa. Had to face defeat. Three people were killed and six injured in Monday’s blasts, suggesting the Houthis are ready to strike in the heart of the country, which is considered the region’s main center for international trade.

If the suspected drone strike is confirmed by local police, Monday’s strike is the latest in a string of strikes that US, European and Israeli defense officials say are increasingly aimed at Iran and its allies in the Middle East. Clarifies the capability to deploy and deploy drones, which is changing the security equation in the region.

According to a draft report by a UN panel of experts seen by The Wall Street Journal, over the past year, the Houthis have developed improved versions of their drones that are capable of long-range strikes with significantly better accuracy.

UAE officials said they were investigating the incident. Abu Dhabi Police said it had detected small flying objects “possibly related to drones.”

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Gulf state, did not immediately blame anyone for the attack. While the Houthis claimed responsibility, the Iranian-backed Iraqi militias last week also threatened to attack the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles to allegedly mobilize Sunni politicians against them and manipulate Iraqi elections.

According to United Arab Emirates state media, the attacks caused a fire at three fuel trucks in Musaffa, an industrial area west of Abu Dhabi, and a construction site at Abu Dhabi airport. According to state media in the United Arab Emirates, two Indian nationals and a Pakistani were among those killed.

Nasr al-Din Amir, deputy head of the Houthis’ information ministry, said more attacks were planned.

“The purpose of this operation is to respond to and stop their escalation, and if the emirate continues its escalation, we will continue to respond to our military operations against the UAE,” he said.

Monday’s strike is the most recent sign that Yemen’s seven-year war is resuming, as opposing sides ramp up military operations, threatening a dangerous new spiral of violence.

While the Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, and claimed to have attacked the UAE in 2018, Houthi long-range drone and missile strikes are generally not lethal.

Despite being part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates has played a less prominent role in the region’s conflicts over the years. Two years ago, the United Arab Emirates announced that it was withdrawing from the war in Yemen, leaving only a small army.

But in recent days, Emirates has increased support for local militias, militia fighters and US officials said. Local Emirati-backed militia members and the Houthis say the UAE’s moves to raise ranks in Shabwa include airstrikes and militia fighters from the coast. The UAE has supported fighters over the years with medical treatment for wounded soldiers and wages.

Those efforts last week helped local militias drive the Houthis out of Shabwa, causing them the most significant battlefield loss in years. The capture of Shabwa challenges rebels’ efforts to capture the oil hub of Marib, the last government-controlled city in Yemen’s north.

A US official said the UAE is working with Saudis to unite fragmented Yemeni forces as they make a concerted effort to reverse Houthi gains.

“There has been an increase in coordination and the emirates are providing a little more muscle as part of the Saudi-led coalition,” the official said.

This story has been published without modification to the text from a wire agency feed