Suspected drone attack kills three in Abu Dhabi

A key oil facility in the capital of the United Arab Emirates was attacked Monday causing three petroleum tanker trucks to explode and starting a fire in the international airport. Preliminary police findings point to flying objects, possibly from drones, that fell in the two areas and may have caused the fire. Two Indian nationals and one Pakistani died at the oil facility, and six are recovering from minor and moderate injuries, according to police reports. Authorities also reported the airport and the oil facility did not suffer significant damage.

Who did it? Houthi rebels claimed to be behind the attack, but they have claimed other attacks that Emirati officials later denied took place. The UAE has supported Yemen throughout a six-year civil war with Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Recently, Houthi troops have suffered major losses as Yemeni troops pushed them back, thwarting their goal of controlling the northern half of Yemen. Houthi rebels have used bomb-laden drones to attack Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the past. Though the UAE has largely pulled out of the fighting in Yemen, it has increased its support of some Yemeni militia groups. 

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour on Yemen’s deepening crisis.