2 missiles intercepted over Abu Dhabi, UAE says

The United Arab Emirates on Monday said it had successfully blocked two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the capital city of Abu Dhabi, according to reports.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defense said “its air defense forces had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles targeting the UAE, which were fired by the Houthi militia,” according to state news agency Wam.

The ministry added there were “no casualties resulting from the attack, and the fragments of the ballistic missiles fell in different areas” around Abu Dhabi.

It further pledged its “full readiness to deal with any threats” and said it will “take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks.”

Videos circulating on social media reported show air missiles in action over the skies of Abu Dhabi in the early hours of the morning. 

The UAE Ministry of Defense later tweeted a video and said that an “F-16 destroyed a ballistic missile launcher” in Yemen’s Al Jawf area “immediately after it launched two ballistic missiles at Abu Dhabi.”

A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, claimed responsibility for the attack. He said in a statement that the Zulfiqar ballistic missiles were fired at al-Dhafra airbase in Abu Dhabi, which is used by the United States, and other “sensitive targets,” Reuters reported.

Sarea said the group had also launched drones toward Dubai, the newswire added.

“We advise foreign companies and investors in the UAE to leave as it has become unsafe,” he said, adding that the Houthis were ready to “meet escalation with escalation.”

The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi issued a security alert to U.S. citizens living in the region, cautioning them to “maintain a high level of security awareness,” the AP added.

The State Department did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

This is the second attack that targeted the Emirati capital in a week, The Associated Press reported. The attack comes just days after a Saudi-led coalition targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen after a drone attack in Abu Dhabi killed three people and left six others wounded. 

The Saudi-led military coalition in northern Yemen killed at least 70 people, The New York Times reported.

The AP noted that the recent airstrikes are an anomaly in the UAE, which has for years been seen as a largely peaceful nation amid the instability of the Middle East.