Following a deadly drone attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered the United Arab Emirates “security and intelligence support.” Bennett’s office issued a public statement condemning the attack in a letter to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed today. “Israel stands with the UAE,” the letter said, adding that “the world should stand against terror.” Bennett said he had “ordered the Israeli security establishment to provide their counterparts in the UAE with any assistance, should [bin Zayed] be interested.” Three people were killed and six others were injured when three drones collided with three fuel tanker trucks at a facility near Abu Dhabi on Monday, causing a fire at the international airport.
Following the strikes, the Saudi-led military coalition, of which the UAE is a member, said it intercepted nine drones headed for Saudi Arabian land. In recent years, the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia, but Monday’s attack on Abu Dhabi represented a potentially catastrophic escalation in regional powers’ involvement in Yemen’s civil conflict. In reaction to the UAE attacks, the Saudi-led coalition struck sites in Sanaa, Yemen’s rebel-held capital. At least 12 individuals have been killed, according to reports. The US condemned the “terrorist incident in Abu Dhabi” and pledged to work with the Houthis to bring them accountable. Following the incident on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/israel-offers-uae-support-after-houthi-drone-attack