Aden (South24) 

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The UAE Ministry of Defense (MOD) reported, late on Sunday night, that the air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the "Houthi militias" towards the UAE. Furthermore, in Shabwa, South Yemen, Houthi missile strikes on Saturday killed four civilians and wounded five others.

The MOD confirmed in a statement released by the UAE News Agency (WAM) that "there were no casualties resulting from the attack and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell outside of populated areas."

This is the third Houthi attack targeting the UAE in less than two weeks.

The Houthi military spokesman said in a statement that they targeted the UAE "with multiple Zulfiqar ballistic missiles and a number of Samad-3 drones".

The UAE MOD later published a video claiming to be during "the destruction of platform for ballistic missile launched from Al-Jawf [governorate], [North Yemen] towards UAE at 00:50 Emirates time."

The Houthi's Al-Masirah channel claimed earlier that the Saudi-led Coalition launched several raids on the capital, Sanaa.

In the first comment on the attack, the UAE President Diplomatic Adviser Anwar Gargash, stated "We are determined on our goals and strategic vision towards contributing to building a stable and prosperous region for all."

Gargash tweeted, "We do not see the threats of terrorist organizations and their fantasies based on illusions as more than a passing matter that will be dealt with in a manner that guarantees our security and national sovereignty."

The attack on UAE coincided with the historic visit for the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

The Israeli president's office released a statement that Herzog would continue his visit to the UAE as scheduled, after the UAE reported that it intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.

Houthi leaders tried to link the attack to the visit of the Israeli president.

After the attack, Mohammad Al-Bakhiti tweeted a picture of Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and the Israeli president commenting: “Oh God, support the right and destroy the false.”

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The US State Department condemned the new attack on Abu Dhabi.

"We condemn the latest Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi," the State Department spokesman said. "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."

The UAE participates in the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen to support the internationally-recognized government of Yemen against the Houthis. In 2019, it withdrew its forces from Yemen. However, the recent defeats of the Houthis in Shabwa at the hands of the UAE's Southern allies prompted the Iranian-backed rebels to target the UAE.

A couple of days ago in Shabwa governorate, a worship place (mosque) in Al-Sabbah area in Usaylan district which was severely damaged by a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis. The Houthis also repeatedly bombed the area last of which yesterday with another ballistic missile.

Local sources and medical authorities reported that the attack killed four civilians and wounded five others. The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group's responsibility for the two attacks.

During the first three weeks of January, the UAE-backed Southern Giants Brigades were able to control the three Beihan districts in Shabwa governorate in South Yemen, in addition to the Harib district, south of Marib, following violent confrontations with the Houthis.

Yemen has been living in a civil war for seven years, which has led to the deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situation and led to what the UN describes as "the worst humanitarian crisis in the world." 

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South24 Center for News and Studies

Photo: A mosque in Usaylan district, Shabwa, after the Houthis missile strikes, Saturday, January 29, 2022 (activists)