Houthi supporters raise rifles as they demonstrate to protest the killing of Saleh al-Samad, a senior Houthi official, by an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in Hodeidah, Yemen April 25, 2018.
Abduljabbar Zeyad | Reuters
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates says it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at an uninhabited area.
The UAE’s defense ministry said Monday morning’s attack did not cause any damage and the country’s civil aviation authority added that civil aviation operations have now returned to normal.
“There were no casualties as a result of the attack and the ballistic missile debris fell outside populated areas,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
It added: “The UAE Air Defense Force and the Coalition Command succeeded in destroying the missile launcher in Yemen after determining the locations of the sites.”
The ministry pledged “totally stand ready to respond to any threat” and will “take all necessary measures to protect the UAE from any attack.”
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack, warning the UAE that it plans to soon reveal details of a military operation “deep in the country”.
Monday’s missile launch was the third attack by the Houthis this month; The first attack on January 17 killed 3 people, while the second attack the following Monday was thwarted by the US forces Patriot missile defense system at Al Air Force Base. Dhafra of Abu Dhabi, which the US said was carried out in tandem with UAE forces.
