On Monday, the UAE defense ministry said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles over Abu Dhabi who was sacked by “Houthi terrorist militia”.
Houthi Yemeni rebels target Abu Dhabi again on Monday and threaten to expand their operations against the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the main escalation in hostility with the two countries which are home to nearly six million Indians.
The UAE defense ministry said intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles over Abu Dhabi who was sacked by “Houthi terrorist militia”. There are no reports of losing life or property, although missile fragments fall in various regions around the UAE capital.
Houthi’s attack marked the latest escalation in a long-term war in Yemen and came exactly a week after other drone-and-missiles by Houthi in Abu Dhabi killed two Indian and Pakistan citizens. Two more Indians were also injured in the attack.
The UAE defense ministry said it destroyed the missile launcher in the North Al Jawf region of Yemen, more than 1,200 km from Abu Dhabi, as soon as the projectile was fired. The ministry said it was fully ready to face the threat and that it would “take all the steps needed to protect the UAE from any attack”.
Houthi’s military spokesman Yahya Sare’e warned in a statement in Arabic that the group was ready to expand its operations against Saudi Arabia and the UAE and “escalation with escalation”. Houthi also “suggested” foreign investors and companies in the UAE leave “unsafe countries”.
There was no direct response from the Indian side with the latest attack by Houtis or threats to expand operations against UAE and Saudi Arabia, which was explained by the Indian government as part of the country’s extended environment. Two West Asian countries are home to nearly six million Indians, including professionals and blue collar workers.
Houthi also held 11 crew members, including seven Indians, from Rabebee’s trading boat after taking it in the Red Sea earlier this month. Both India and the UAE demanded the liberation of crew members, although small decisions seem to have been made in an effort to make them released.
The Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar on January 18 condemned drone attack by Houthi in Abu Dhabi which killed two Indian citizens as “terror attacks”, and delivered strong solidarity in India to his colleague Uee Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan in front of the attack.
The Indian government has expressed concern on the intensification of recent battles in Yemen and reaffirm its position that peaceful solutions must be found through dialogue. It has asked all parties in the conflict to come to the negotiating table to find “peaceful resolution for Yemeni problems”.
Experts believe that Houthi’s attack on UAE uses drones and missiles is the main escalation of almost seven-year conflicts. Houthi previously used drones and missiles to target oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. UAE reduced its participation in the Saudi Arabian LED coalition in Yemeni, but Houthis had replied in responding to reports that UAE supported a recent land attack in South Yemen.
The UN Security Council last week condemned “vile terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi” and on other sites in Saudi Arabia, and “underscoring the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, investors and sponsors of this despicable terrorism action and take them to court.”
India is stuck in a smooth position due to old support provided by Iran to Houthi. Some reports suggest drones and missiles used by Houthi are being supplied by Iran. India enjoys good relations with UAE and Iran, which is seen as a key player in handling the situation that appears in Afghanistan.