DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has aid it prevented another drone attack over its territory, after Washington said it will send a warship and fighter jets to help defend its Gulf ally as conflict with Yemeni rebels intensifies.
The UAE, a major financial hub and part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen s Iran-backed Huthi rebels for seven years, announced the “interception and destruction” of three “hostile” drones on Wednesday, the fourth similar attack targeting the wealthy state in three weeks.
Although the latest attack was not immediately claimed, it follows missile and drone assaults the Huthis said they carried out this year. Three people have been killed.
The US deployment, to “assist the UAE against the current threat”, follows a phone call between Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the US embassy in the UAE said.
Under the arrangements, the guided missile destroyer USS Cole will partner with the UAE Navy and make a port call in Abu Dhabi, while the US will also deploy “fifth-generation” warplanes, which are the most advanced.
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Other actions include “continuing to provide early warning intelligence (and) collaborating on air defence”, the embassy said.
The USS Cole, currently in port in Bahrain, was bombed by Al-Qaeda in the Yemeni port of Aden in October 2000, killing 17 sailors.
Austin and the crown prince discussed the Huthi attacks, which “also threatened US and Emirati armed forces stationed at Al Dhafra air base,” the embassy added.
