UAE shoots down missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis as Israeli president visits

The UAE’s air defence forces on Monday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi terrorist group in the direction of it, the nation’s Ministry of Defence stated, amidst a historic go to by Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.

There had been no casualties ensuing from the assault and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell exterior of populated areas, the ministry stated in an announcement to the nation’s official WAM information company.“The UAE air defence forces and the Coalition Command had succeeded in destroying the missile launcher in Yemen after identifying locations of the sites,” it stated.In a tweet, the ministry stated that the platform for ballistic missile launch at Al Jawf in Yemen was destroyed at 12.50 AM (native time). A video of the destruction was additionally shared.ALSO READ: Former Afghan officers, others killed by Taliban, says UN reportThe ministry additionally affirmed its “full readiness to deal with any threats,” including that it’s going to “take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks.”It additionally known as on the general public to comply with the information on the newest missile assault from the UAE’s official authorities.Meanwhile, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) stated that the air visitors motion is regular and all flights are working as normal as there was “no impact on air traffic”.In an announcement to WAM, the GCAA stated that “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.”Abu Dhabi and Dubai are essential international aviation hubs within the area.The GCAA additionally known as on the general public to check with official sources for all info and updates.The missile assault got here hours after Israel’s President Herzog met Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.In September 2020, Israel and the UAE normalised their relations in a US-brokered settlement with the Emirates changing into the primary Gulf nation to determine formal ties with the Jewish state, and the third Arab nation ever to take action after Egypt and Jordan in 1979 and 1994, respectively.ALSO READ: NATO needs to ‘drag’ Ukraine into alliances, says Russia’s overseas ministerLast month, in a historic go to, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the UAE and met the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince.Last week additionally, the UAE intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles that the Houthi terror group fired in the direction of its capital Abu Dhabi.On the morning of January 17, Yemen’s Houthi rebels focused a gas depot in Abu Dhabi and the town’s essential airport, heightening tensions within the oil-exporting area.They focused the Musaffah ICAD 3 space and the brand new building space at Abu Dhabi International Airport, each of that are civilian infrastructure.The assaults, which led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers, killed two Indians and one Pakistani nationwide and injured six different civilians.The UN Security Council had strongly condemned the “heinous” terror assaults in Abu Dhabi through which two Indians and a Pakistani civilian had been killed and expressed condolences to the households of the victims.In a press assertion issued by the 15-nation Council, the highly effective UN organ condemned within the strongest phrases the “heinous terrorist attacks” in Abu Dhabi on January 17, in addition to in different websites in Saudi Arabia.“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the Houthi attacks and to the Governments of India and Pakistan, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” the assertion stated.The Council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its types and manifestations constitutes one of the severe threats to worldwide peace and safety.Days after the January 17 assault, the UAE authorities banned all flying operations of personal drones and light-weight sports activities plane within the Gulf nation for a month.According to the assertion, the ban additionally encompasses air and sail spots.The Houthi rebels have taken accountability for a number of drone assaults on Saudi Arabian oil services previously.The UAE is a part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen combating the Houthis.ALSO READ: Thousands protest in opposition to Covid vaccine mandate in Canada, truckers block freeway into US