World leaders and ministers have issued statements condemning the Iran-backed Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

A suspected drone attack launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia caused a fire and explosion that killed three people and injured six others on Monday. The US strongly condemned the incident in a statement made on Tuesday by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, according to UAE state media WAM.

“Our commitment to the security of the UAE is unwavering and we stand beside our Emirati partners against all threats to their territory.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke late on Monday with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressing solidarity and voicing his condolences for the loss of life.

Spoke today with United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs @ABZayed about the deadly Houthi attacks today impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure. I expressed my condolences and my solidarity with people of the UAE.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 17, 2022

France strongly condemned the deadly drone attack in Abu Dhabi claimed by Yemen’s Houthis.

“These attacks threaten the security of the United Arab Emirates and regional stability,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said, expressing France’s “backing” for the UAE.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “condemns” the suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi and calls on “all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation,” his spokesman said.

“Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law,” Stephane Dujarric added in comments to reporters after the attack.

Bahrain also condemned the attack describing it as a “cowardly terrorist attack”.

In a statement carried by Bahrain’s official state news agency, the foreign affairs ministry said the kingdom “denounces this Houthi attack”.

Saudi Arabia also condemned the Houthi violation.
“The Kingdom affirms its full stand with the brotherly United Arab Emirates in the face of everything that threatens its security and stability. The Kingdom also points out that this terrorist act, which is behind the evil forces of the Houthi terrorist militia, reaffirms the seriousness of this terrorist group and its threat to security, peace, and stability in the region and the World,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed in a statement.

Earlier on Monday, Abu Dhabi police announced that a fire that broke out that morning in the Musaffah ICAD 3 area, near the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and resulted in the explosion of three petroleum tankers, had been brought under control, according to state news agency WAM.
“The incident led to the deaths of one Pakistani and two Indians, while another six people sustained mild and moderate injuries, it added. Relevant authorities have launched an investigation into the incident,” police stated.
Another minor fire broke out at the new construction site at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which was contained without any casualties.

Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the attack, admitting it conducted an operation “deep in the UAE.”
Abu Dhabi police detailed that preliminary data indicated two drones were suspected to be the cause of the two fires, and that investigations were ongoing.

Drone attacks are a hallmark of the Houthis’ assaults on Saudi Arabia, the UAE ally that is leading the coalition fighting for Yemen’s government in the grinding civil war.