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2022 Abu Dhabi attack

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2022 Abu Dhabi attack
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
LocationAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Date17 January 2022 (2022-01-17)
14:29 – 14:50 (UTC+4:00)
TargetFuel trucks and airport infrastructure
Attack type
Drone attack
Deaths3 [1]
Injured6
Perpetrators Houthis

The 2022 Abu Dhabi attack or Operation Hurricane by Yemeni Houthis[2] was a drone attack against multiple targets in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[3][4][5]

Background

Since 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in civil war. Rebels have been led and are almost entirely composed of the Shia Islamist movement known as the Houthis. A Saudi-Arabian led coalition, which includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to support and aid government forces. Saudi Arabia and its supporters have accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of backing and using Houthis as proxies, which Iran has denied. The UAE plays a significant role in the war, lending major assistance to pro-government militais like the Giants Brigades.

Throughout the conflict, which has seen one of the world's largest humanitarian crisises, Houthis have carried numerous attacks outside Yemen, mainly on Saudi Arabia. Very few have taken place outside the country, and before the last attack on the UAE was in 2018.[6]

A few days before the city was attacked, Houthis captured and raided an Emirati cargo ship near Al Hudaydah, which they claimed was carrying military equipment the UAE planned to supply to pro-government forces. The Emirati and Saudi governments said the vessel was holding humanitarian supplies.[2]

Attack

In the morning of January 17, 2022, drones struck three oil refueling vehicles in an Oil refinery for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in Musaffah.[7][8] Drone blasts coupled with five ballistic missiles[9] simultaneously set an extension of the Abu Dhabi International Airport on fire, with no recorded fatalities.[10][11][12] Abu Dhabi Police identified two Indian and one Pakistani nationals killed by the attack.[13] Six people were injured by the drone strikes.[14]

Yahia Sarei, the Houthi military spokesperson, claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the organization.[15]

Aftermath

The Emirati government has asked American Secretary of State Antony Blinken to restore the Houthis on the USA's list of terrorist entities. While the US has not yet acted on the request, Blinken did condemn the attack.[16][17] Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan telephoned Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar the following day, expressing empathy for the Indian victims of the attack and their families.[18][19]

The Saudi Arabian–led coalition in Yemen announced later that day it had retaliated by air striking Houthi targets in Sanaa. A Saudi-affiliated media outlet reported eleven people had been killed.[20][21]

Reactions

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry denounced the incident, voicing solidarity with the Emirates.[4]

American National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called for the perpetrators to be held accountable and that American "Commitment to the security of the UAE is unwavering, and we stand beside our Emirati partners against all threats to their territory."[22] United Nations Secretary General António Guterres denounced the events while calling for stability to be maintained in the region. French foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian voiced similar sentiments.[16]

Turki Al-Maliki condemned the strikes and threatened military action if the Houthis did not cease such attacks.[2] The Saudi Government described the events as cowardly and a terrorist deed.[23]

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett tweeted his condemnation of the "terrorist drone attack," sending a letter of condolence to Mohamed bin Zayed via his spokesman.[9][20]

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam justified the attack, adding that any further attempt by pro-Saudi forces to intervene in Yemen unless "[The Emirates'] hands and other hands who tamper will be cut off." The Houthis also stated they "would not hesitate" to launch more attacks.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills 3, including Pakistani national". Dawn. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Saudi coalition strikes Houthis after drone attack on UAE". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2022-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ CNN, Charbel Mallo and Celine Alkhaldi. "3 killed in suspected Houthi drone attack in Abu Dhabi". CNN. Retrieved 2022-01-17. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b "Egypt condemns Houthi terrorist attack on UAE after 3 killed in oil tanker explosions - Foreign Affairs - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  5. ^ Al-Shamahi, Abubakr. "What is behind the Houthi attacks in the UAE?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  6. ^ "Houthis, which claimed responsibility for UAE blasts, had carried out cross-border strikes earlier". The Indian Express. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  7. ^ "Houthi attack will bring UAE back to Yemen's arena strongly". Al-Ayyam (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Two Indians among 3 killed in Abu Dhabi fuel truck blast, Yemeni Houthis claim responsibility". The Hindu. Reuters. 2022-01-17. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  9. ^ a b "Israel offers UAE security, intelligence support after deadly Houthi attack". National Post. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  10. ^ "Drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills 3, wounds 6". CBC News. January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Batrawy, Aya (2022-01-17). "Drone attack in Abu Dhabi claimed by Yemen's rebels kills 3". CTVNews. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  12. ^ "Latest updates: Houthi rebels warn of further attacks on UAE". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  13. ^ "2 Indians, 1 Pakistani killed in blast from 'drone attack' in Abu Dhabi". Hindustan Times. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  14. ^ Batrawy, Aya (2022-01-17). "Drone attack in Abu Dhabi claimed by Yemen's rebels kills 3". CP24. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  15. ^ "Suspected drone attack kills three in Abu Dhabi and raises tensions". the Guardian. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  16. ^ a b "U.S. Condemns Deadly Houthi Attack on Abu Dhabi; UAE Reserves Right to Respond". US News.
  17. ^ Fattah, Zainab (January 17, 2022). "UAE to Ask U.S. to Restore Houthi Terrorism Label After Attack". Bloomberg.com.
  18. ^ "UAE drone attack: Jaishankar assures of 'fullest support' to families of victims from India". Hindustan Times. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  19. ^ "UAE Minister Dials S Jaishankar, Condoles Death Of Indians In Drone Attack". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  20. ^ a b "Bennett offers UAE 'security and intelligence support' after attack by Houthis". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2022-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Saudi coalition strikes Houthis after drone attack on UAE". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  22. ^ Ravid, Barak. "UAE asks U.S. to reinstate Houthi terrorist designation after attack". Axios.
  23. ^ Press, The Associated (2022-01-17). "A drone attack in Abu Dhabi claimed by rebels in Yemen has killed three people". NPR. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
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