ABU DHABI: Yemen rebel attacks will not become a “new normal” for the United Arab Emirates, a senior Emirati official said, vowing a robust defence.
The Iran-backed Huthi rebels launched two missile attacks on the UAE this month, with three oil workers killed in the first assault on January 17 and the second intercepted by its defence forces.
“This is not going to be the new normal for the UAE,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“We refuse to acquiesce to the threat of Huthi terror that targets our people and way of life,” the official added.
The United States, a staunch UAE ally, had asked its citizens Wednesday to reconsider travel to the Emirates “due to the threat of missile or drone attacks”.
But the UAE official stood firm on Thursday that the Gulf country was “ready to defend itself”.
“We remain one of the most secure countries in the world, and the recent attacks have only strengthened our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of our residents,” the official said.
While the UAE’s main economic mainstay comes from exporting oil, it also relies on tourism and foreign investments.
Foreigners make up 90 percent of its 10-million population.
Yemen’s rebels have frequently targeted Saudi Arabia, killing and injuring civilians, and damaging infrastructure, including oil facilities and airports.
The Emirates has had a major role in the Saudi-led military coalition backing Yemen’s internationally-recognised government against the Huthis.
In 2019, the UAE withdrew its troops from Yemen but remains an influential player.
The attacks, in response to a series of rebel defeats by a UAE-trained militia, pit the Huthis’ home-grown weaponry against the Emirates’ multi-billion-dollar missile defence capabilities.
The rebels have warned of further attacks on the UAE, which hosts American troops and is one of the world’s biggest arms buyers.
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