UAE says it “reserves right to respond” to Houthi militia attack in Abu Dhabi

Reacting to the attacks on civilian facilities including petroleum tankers and the international airport in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stated that the country “reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and criminal escalation,” describing them as “crimes committed in flagrant violation of international law.”

“We condemn the Houthi militia’s targeting of civilian areas and facilities on UAE soil today. We reiterate that those responsible for this unlawful targeting of our country will be held accountable,” the statement added, according to state-run news agency WAM.

The ministry said that “the terrorist militia has carried out a cowardly act to spread terrorism and chaos in the region in order to achieve its illegal aims and objectives.”

Statement by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on the Houthi militia attack in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi. https://t.co/cOXFa6jt3p

— وزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي (@MoFAICUAE) January 17, 2022

The Abu Dhabi Police earlier on Monday confirmed that a fire broke out that morning, which led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers in ICAD 3, Mussafah, near ADNOC’s storage tanks. It led to the deaths of one Pakistani and two Indians, while another six people sustained mild and moderate injuries. The UAE foreign ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.

Read: Abu Dhabi Police confirms explosion of three petroleum tankers

ADNOC issued a statement later in the day confirming the incident and loss of life at its facilities. It said: “At approximately 10am this morning, an incident occurred at our Mussafah Fuel Depot in Abu Dhabi which resulted in the outbreak of a fire. Emergency response teams, including civil defence, fire and ambulance responders as well as an ADNOC emergency response team quickly attended the scene, and the fire was brought under control and extinguished. ADNOC is deeply saddened to confirm that three colleagues have died. A further six colleagues were injured and received immediate specialist medical care. Professional support teams are supporting the families of all those who have been impacted.”

At approximately 10:00 AM this morning, an incident occurred at our Mussafah Fuel Depot in Abu Dhabi which resulted in the outbreak of a fire. ADNOC is deeply saddened to confirm that three colleagues have died.

— ADNOC Group (@AdnocGroup) January 17, 2022

Apart from the ADNOC’s petroleum facilities, a minor fire also broke out in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport.

The UAE foreign ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn terrorist acts that target civilians and civilian facilities.

There has been strong condemnation from all the GCC countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

The Arab Parliament too strongly condemned the terrorist Houthi militia’s launch of booby-trapped drones towards Abu Dhabi. The Arab Parliament stressed its support for the UAE and all measures it will take to confront these sabotage acts. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary general Hussein Ibrahim Taha also expressed his strong condemnation of the attack, reiterating the OIC’s position in support of the UAE and all the measures it’s taking to protect its territories and security.

Other countries that have come out in support of the UAE include Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Egypt among others.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also received a phone call from the Secretary of State of the US, Antony Blinken. During the phone call, Blinken reportedly affirmed the US’ condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack of the terrorist Houthi militia on civil areas and facilities in the UAE.