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The defense ministry says it has intercepted drones in UAE airspace, the fourth incident in three weeks.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said it has intercepted and destroyed three drones that penetrated the Gulf country airspace over unpopulated areas, the country’s defense ministry has said.
“MOD (Ministry of Defense) announces interception and destruction, away from populated areas, of three hostile drones that penetrated UAE airspace at dawn today,” the defense ministry said on its official Twitter account late on Wednesday.
“MOD confirms it is ready to deal with any threats and is taking all necessary measures to protect the state and its territory.”
MOD announces interception and destruction, away from populated areas, of three hostile drones that penetrated UAE airspace at dawn today, 2/2/2022. MOD confirms it is ready to deal with any threats and is taking all necessary measures to protect the state and its territory. pic.twitter.com/xXvbsQByP6
– وزارة الدفاع | MOD UAE (@modgovae) February 2, 2022
The Gulf state has faced several attacks in the past few weeks including a third missile attack on Monday during a visit by Israel’s president.
The United States deployed Patriot interceptors to thwart, according to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. The Pentagon later said UAE surface-to-air missiles struck down the incoming missile.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility.
The attacks on the UAE, the region’s commercial and tourism hub are an escalation in the Yemen war, in which the Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa.
The United States said on Tuesday it is sending fighter jets to assist the UAE following the missile attacks.
The U.S. State Department urged Americans last month to reconsider travel plans because of the threat of missile or drone strikes. The UK warned in a travel advisory on Wednesday that “further attacks are very likely”.
While the UAE, which does not directly border Yemen, has not been a major target of attacks by Houthis since 2015 – when it began fighting in Yemen as part of a Saudi-led military coalition backing the country’s internationally recognized government – a January 17 attack by the Houthis appeared to signal a distinct strategic shift for the rebel group.
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