The United States will deploy fighter jets to help defend the United ArabEmirates after a series of missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, a statementby the US mission to the UAE said Tuesday.
The statement came after a call between US Secretary of Defence Lloyd JAustin III with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Thetwo leaders discussed the recent attacks on the gulf country by Houthirebels.
The latest attack was on Monday when the UAE intercepted and destroyed aballistic missile launched at it before dawn, marking the third suchincident this month. The attack came as Israeli President Isaac Herzog madethe first-ever visit by an Israeli head of state to the Gulf nation.
The incident followed two earlier attacks on the Emirates in recent weeks.In the first assault on 17 January, three foreign workers were killed,while the second attack targeted the al-Dhafra air base as well as “vitaland important” locations in the Dubai area, according to a statement by thegroup.
The US military also intervened to aid the UAE in thwarting the attacks, USand Emirati officials told The New York Times.
“The Secretary reviewed a range of actions the Department of Defense istaking to support the UAE,” the embassy statement read. “These includecontinuing to provide early warning intelligence, collaborating on airdefense, and sending the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Cole topartner with the UAE Navy before making a port call in Abu Dhabi.”
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“The Secretary also informed the Crown Prince of his decision to deploy 5thGeneration Fighter aircraft to assist the UAE against the current threatand as a clear signal that the United States stands with the UAE as along-standing strategic partner.”
The US on Thursday advised its citizens not to travel to the UAE over thethreat of Houthi missile or drone attacks.
The UAE is part of a Saudi-led military coalition that supports Yemen’sgovernment against the Iran-aligned Houthis movement.
