Sanaa – Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels on Wednesday threatened to attackdozens of targets in the United Arab Emirates, including in theskyscraper-filled city states of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“We announce… that we have dozens of targets in the UAE, among them AbuDhabi and Dubai, and that they can be targeted at any moment,” Huthimilitary spokesman Brigadier Yahya Saree said.
The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Huthis in Yemen inan intractable five-year conflict that has devastated the country.
“If you want peace and security for your facilities, and towers made ofglass that cannot withstand one drone, then leave Yemen alone,” the rebelspokesman said.
The Huthis have made threats against the UAE in the past, and claimedstrikes that were never confirmed by the Emirati authorities.
This week, the militia said it carried out devastating attacks on Saudi oilinfrastructure that took out half the kingdom’s production — althoughWashington and Riyadh have roundly rejected the claim and blamed Iraninstead.
The Huthis have hit dozens of targets in Saudi Arabia, and their rapidlyadvancing arsenal has exposed the vulnerability of the kingdom to dronestrikes despite its vast military spending.
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However, Saudi defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said Wednesdaythat the range and precision of the weapons used to target the facilitiesin the country’s east last weekend were beyond the Huthis’ capabilities.
“Despite Iran’s efforts to make it appear so,” they did not originate fromYemen, Maliki said, adding that they struck from a northerly direction thatruled out its southern neighbour as a source.
Saree, however, said the assault on two facilities, which left themengulfed in flames, was launched from three locations, using advanceddrones with long-range capabilities.
“To the Emirati regime, we say that just one operation will cost you alot,” Saree said.
“You will regret it if your leadership decides to issue instructions to itsarmed forces to launch any response in the coming days or weeks.” -APP/AFP
