Iranian Backed Houthi Rebels Attack Abu Dhabi Airport

On Friday, July 27^th, Houthi rebels claimed a drone attack on Abu Dhabi International Airport. UAE officials have denied that an attack on their airport took place. While rebels claim an attack took place, no evidence of such an attack has been provided by them. Many passengers, however, commented on the numerous flight delays during the time-period the rebels claim an attack happened. The brazen attack follows one day after two Saudi oil tankers were assaulted while passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia has since closed the strategic shipping lane, the fourth busiest oil shipping lane in the world, that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aiden via the Red Sea.

Attacks on civilian and economic targets by Houthi rebels have grown in recent weeks. Following the relatively new trend of attacking oil refineries, the rebels used a drone to attack an oil refinery two weeks ago. Houthi rebels have also continued to fire missiles at the civilian population within Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

The means through which Houthi rebels have acquired weapons to commit these attacks has been called into question. Houthi forces have claimed that the drones used in these attacks are of their own design and are manufactured within Yemen. Arms researchers, however, have noted that the design and parts are nearly identical to Iranian drones, with some even claiming that the drones were smuggled to Yemen after being manufactured in Iran.

Iran has supported the Houthis by sending them weapons and giving them political support for years. Advanced weaponry given to the Houthi rebels by Iran contribute to prolonging the civil war, including drone boats that are designed to explode when rammed against ships and were built using Iranian parts. These boats have been used to attack Saudi Arabia’s royal navy and could be used to attack civilian vessels in the future. New radio controlled IEDS (RCIEDS) that are camouflaged to look like rocks have also been built using Iran’s technological support.

The longer the civil war lasts in Yemen, the greater its impact will be felt around the globe. The closing of the Bab al-Mandeb is causing energy prices to rise around the word. The United States will continue to counter Iran’s support for the Houthi Rebels through its backing of the Saudi-led coalition and its support to re-instate the exiled government of Yemen.