A gigantic fire broke out in Abu Dhabi on Monday, January 17, causing the“explosion” of three tank trucks carrying fuel. The official record is three dead and six injured “mild to moderate”. L’explosion and fire “probably” been caused by “drones”, from “flying objects” being “fallen down” at the places affected, saccording to the police of the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
According to a senior Emirati official, the explosion was caused by rebels in Yemen – the Emirates militarily support the power in place against them. “The Emirates reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and this sinister criminal escalation”, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted by the official agency WAM.
The Houthi rebels had warned shortly before that they were going to make a “important announcement” in the next few hours about a “major military operation in the United Arab Emirates”, according to a tweet from their military spokesperson, Yahya Saree. Internet users have posted videos on social networks.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – An industrial area in Abu Dhabi was the target of a drone attack on Monday morning. Three tank trucks exploded, causing no casualties. Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, claim responsibility for the aerial incursion (i24). pic.twitter.com/DdzVKiVohv
— The Globe (@TheGlobe_info) January 17, 2022
The explosion took place “near ADNOC storage tanks”, the Abu Dhabi Oil Company, and the‘”minor fire” in “the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport”. The two incidents did not cause any “significant damage”, according to WAM, adding that the authorities had launched a “extensive investigation”.
The Emirates are members of the Saudi-led military coalition that has been operating in Yemen since 2015 to support government forces against the Houthis, Iran-backed insurgents.