Ballistic missiles intercepted over Abu Dhabi; The US State Division is issuing a warning

Town of Abu Dhabi at dawn on April 27, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Rustam Azmi | Getty Pictures

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates intercepted two incoming ballistic missiles over its capital Abu Dhabi early Monday morning, state media company WAM reported.

“The Protection Ministry introduced on Monday that its air protection forces intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles aimed on the UAE that had been fired by the Houthi terrorist militia,” the company mentioned.

The ministry confirmed that there have been no casualties within the assault and that “fragments of the ballistic missiles fell in varied areas” round Abu Dhabi.

The US State Division issued a safety alert shortly after the tried assault, warning Individuals within the space to take precautions.

“There have been experiences earlier this morning of a doable missile assault and related missile protection actions over Abu Dhabi. The embassy reminds all US residents within the UAE to take care of a excessive degree of safety consciousness,” the warning mentioned.

The focused missile launch comes only a week after a Houthi-claimed lethal assault on Abu Dhabi that used drones and missiles, UAE officers say. The strikes hit a gas depot owned by state-owned oil firm ADNOC and a building website close to Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport, killing three folks.

“Yemen’s Houthi militia has claimed accountability for the Jan. 17 assault on Abu Dhabi and has indicated intentions to make use of missiles and unmanned aerial programs (drones) to assault neighboring international locations, together with the United Arab Emirates,” the warning mentioned of the Ministry of International Affairs.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni insurgent motion, have been at warfare with a Saudi-led coalition that features the UAE since 2015. The bloody and protracted battle, which has left tens of hundreds of Yemenis ravenous, was sparked with the Saudi-led bombing offensive that started in March 2015 after Houthi militants took over the Yemeni authorities and ousted a management backed by the Saudis .

Whereas Abu Dhabi largely decreased its nation’s floor forces from Yemen in 2019, it nonetheless helps proxy forces there, a few of whom have robbed the Houthis of key territorial features after months of fierce combating. Analysts say the assaults on the UAE are in retaliation.

The usage of drones – together with for industrial functions – has been banned within the UAE, and the Protection Ministry mentioned on Monday it was “absolutely ready to cope with any threats” and “take all obligatory measures to forestall the UAE from attacking.” defend towards assaults”.