The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has intercepted and destroyed three drones that breached its airspace over unpopulated regions, according to the country’s defense ministry.
“MOD (Ministry of Defense) announces interception and destruction, away from populated areas, of three hostile drones that penetrated UAE airspace at dawn today,” the defense ministry said on its official Twitter account late on Wednesday.
“MOD confirms it is ready to deal with any threats and is taking all necessary measures to protect the state and its territory.”
Awliya Wa’ad al-Haq, or The True Promise Brigades, a little-known Iraqi organization, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it fired “four drones targeting vital facilities in Abu Dhabi” in response to the UAE’s policy in both Iraq and Yemen.
On January 23, 2021, the organization claimed responsibility for an attack on the Yamama Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Officials in both Iraq and US think the Saudi strike started in Iraq. After three recent strikes in Yemen by the Iran-backed rebel Houthi group, this increases the potential that the UAE is now being targeted from the north and south.
The Gulf state has been the target of many attacks in recent weeks, including a third missile attack on Monday during a visit by Israel’s president to the country.
