Air traffic movement is normal and all flights are operating as usual following a ballistic missile attack launched at the United Arab Emirates Monday morning, according to state news agency WAM.
The UAE on Monday intercepted a Houthi-launched ballistic missile, the UAE Ministry of Defence said in a statement carried by WAM. The Yemen-based Houthi rebel militia has launched a series of missile attacks on the UAE recently, with one attack killing three people after fuel tankers were set ablaze in Abu Dhabi. Oil prices hit a seven-year high after the mid-January attack that caused fires that resulted in three petroleum tanker explosions near state oil firm ADNOC’s storage facilities.
Following the Monday attack, the General Civil Aviation Authority said, “There is no impact on flights and airports resulting from the interception of the ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia on the country,” the statement read.
The UAE destroyed the missile and there were no casualties, with missile fragments falling “outside of populated areas,” according to the Defence Ministry statement. The ministry said it would “take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks.”
Houthi armed forces spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed the group launched another attack on the UAE, the third in a month as regional tensions heat up.
The attack came during a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who met with UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. The UAE and Israel normalised relations in 2020 as part of a diplomatic deal brokered by the Trump administration.
“We condemn the latest Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi,” US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter. “While Israel’s president is visiting the UAE to build bridges and promote stability across the region, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that threaten civilians.”
*With Bloomberg
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