ABU DHABI – The UAE’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Monday Monday that its air defence forces had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group as the Gulf country hosted Israel President Isaac Herzog on his first-ever visit.
It confirmed in a statement that “there were no casualties resulting from the attack and the fragments of the ballistic missile fell outside of populated areas.”
It added, “The UAE air defence forces and the Coalition Command had succeeded in destroying the missile launcher in Yemen after identifying locations of the sites.”
The ministry affirmed its “full readiness to deal with any threats,” adding that it will “take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attacks.”
The ministry also called on the public to follow the news from the UAE’s official authorities.
This the third attack carried out by the Houthi militants since a drone and missile assault that killed three oil workers, including a Pakistani national and two Indian, on January 17. A second that was blocked was fired at the UAE a week later.
The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthis militants in Yemen, in a seven-year-old conflict that has claimed lives of thousands of people and displaced millions.
Monday’s attack came as the Israeli president discussed security and bilateral ties with the UAE ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi.
Reports said that Herzog spent the night in Abu Dhabi. He will continue his UAE visit despite the Houthi attack, his office said.
