Drone attack at Abu Dhabi's new airport: 2 Indians among 3 killed in UAE; Yemen's Houthis claim responsibility

Dubai, Jan 17: Three people, including two Indian nationals and one Pakistani were killed, and six others were wounded as a suspected drone attack blew up petrol tanks near a major oil storage facility in United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, local media reported today.

"The explosions "resulted in the death of a Pakistani national and two Indian nationals, and six others sustained mild to moderate injuries," state news agency WAM reported.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack in UAE after police in the capital Abu Dhabi reported two fires.

"UAE authorities have informed that the explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOC's storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties, which includes 2 Indian nationals. The Indian Embassy in UAE is in close touch with concerned UAE authorities for further details," tweeted Embassy of India in UAE.

Abu Dhabi police described the airport fire as "minor" and said it took place at an extension of Abu Dhabi's main international airport still under construction.

The statement reported a separate explosion on three petroleum tankers near a storage facility for ADNOC, Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company.

Abu Dhabi police said preliminary investigations indicated the detection of small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones, that fell in the two areas and may have caused the explosion and fire. They said there was no significant damage from the incidents, without offering further details.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, meanwhile, claimed to have launched an attack in the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi is the UAE's seat of government and steers the country's foreign policy. The UAE has been at war in Yemen since early 2015, and was a key member of the Saudi-led coalition that launched attacks against the Iranian-backed Houthis after the group overran the capital of Yemen and ousted the internationally backed government there.

Houthi military spokesman Yahia Sarei said the group launched an attack deep in the UAE. He did not provide further details, saying a statement would be released soon.

with PTI inputs