Damaged buildings in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa are seen on Jan. 18, 2022, after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched airstrikes in retaliation for a deadly Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi.
The recent Houthi attack against Abu Dhabi could provoke a cycle of such strikes that undermines the United Arab Emirates’ reputation as a peaceful business hub. The attack may also increase U.S. military and diplomatic support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and put fresh pressure on Iran-backed Houthi rebels. On Jan. 17, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a reported attack on an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ANDOC) oil storage facility located in the capital’s industrial zone, southwest of the airport. Two Indian nationals and one Pakistani worker were killed in the attack, which according to preliminary reports, included drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles — some of which Saudi Arabia claimed to intercept.
