Abu Dhabi: 2 Indians were among 3 people killed and 6 others sustained mild to moderate injuries in Abu Dhabi on Monday after 3 fuel tankers exploded in an industrial area near the international airport. The explosions are suspected to have been caused due to a drone attack, said United Arab Emirates authorities. A minor fire also broke out at the international airport.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for the attack. “Initial investigations found parts of a small plane that could possibly be a drone at both sites that could have caused the explosions and the fire,” the police said. The military spokesman of Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is battling a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and including the UAE, said the group launched a military operation “deep in the UAE” and would announce details in the coming hours.
Pro-coalition forces backed by the UAE have recently joined fighting against the Houthis in Yemen’s energy-producing regions of Shabwa and Marib. The UAE had largely scaled down its military presence in Yemen in 2019 but continues to hold sway through the Yemeni forces it armed and trained. The Houthis have repeatedly launched cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and have in the past threatened to attack the UAE.