On the evening of January 17, local time, after the Houthi armed forces in Yemen launched an attack on Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi-led coalition launched an air strike on Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, killing about 14 people and injuring more than 10 people. According to other reports, the death toll has risen to 20.
A local medical staff and multiple residents in Sana’a told the media that the residence of a former military officer was hit by an air strike and about 14 people were killed, including the former military officer and his family.
Saudi state media said coalition F-15 fighter jets targeted and destroyed two ballistic missile launchers said to have been used to attack the United Arab Emirates. A statement issued by the coalition said the air strike was a “necessary military action” taken “in response to the threat” and targeted “terrorist leaders.”
Before the Saudi-led coalition launched an attack on Sanaa, Houthi armed spokesman Yahya Saree announced that on that day, the Houthi armed forces launched five “ballistic and winged missiles” and “a large number of missiles.” Man-machine” launched an attack on the “heartland” of the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Police later issued a statement saying that a fire broke out at a construction site of the Abu Dhabi Airport expansion project and three oil tankers exploded near a storage facility of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Among them, the oil tanker explosion eventually resulted in 3 deaths and 6 injuries.
The attack and bombing was one of the largest ever seen on UAE soil. Saraya said that the operation was “retaliation for the escalation of US-Saudi-UAE aggression” and that as long as the UAE continues to escalate its aggression against Yemen, it will continue to be an “unsafe country.”
In response, the UAE said it reserves the right to respond to “terrorist attacks and escalation of crime.” Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, pointed out that Saudi Arabia considered the attack a “terrorist attack” and amounted to a war crime against civilians.
U.S. National Security Adviser Sullivan echoed the Saudi statement, condemning the attacks on the UAE and saying the United States would “work to ensure that the Houthis are held accountable for their actions.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Houthi armed attack on the 17th and called on all parties to “show maximum restraint and avoid escalation of the situation.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also warned that the attack posed a threat to regional stability.
On January 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated at a regular press conference: “China condemns the attacks on civilian facilities such as Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. We support the UAE’s efforts to maintain its own security and stability and call on relevant parties to Refrain from taking actions that would escalate tensions in the region.”
International oil prices continued to rise after news broke of the Houthi armed forces in Yemen bombing the United Arab Emirates. On January 18, Brent crude oil hit a seven-year high, and U.S. crude oil also rose above the $85/barrel mark for the first time since October last year. As of 19:25 Beijing time, Brent crude oil rose 1.35% to US$87.64 per barrel; US crude oil rose 1.68% to US$84.70 per barrel.
The commodity strategy team of ABN AMRO said in a report that rising geopolitical risks have supported the rise in oil prices. Before the attack on the storage facilities of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the market had already had a lot of concerns about the potential impact of the escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. . These rising risks, combined with concerns about OPEC’s spare capacity, mean sentiment in the oil market remains bullish.
Why did the Houthis attack the United Arab Emirates?
Li Shaoxian, dean of the China Institute of Arab Studies at Ningxia University, pointed out in an interview with a reporter from the 21st Century Business Herald that it is rare for the Houthi armed forces to suddenly attack targets in the UAE. They have not attacked the UAE since 2018, but mainly target Saudi Arabia. , because the UAE has withdrawn its troops from Yemen and withdrew from the Saudi-led coalition.
However, Li Shaoxian analyzed that the Houthi armed forces attacked the United Arab Emirates for a reason. “Although the UAE has withdrawn its troops from Yemen, its support for the armed forces in southern Yemen has not stopped, including providing training and equipment. In recent months, this armed force has launched a fierce attack on the Houthi armed forces and invaded Mali Divination Province.”
What strategic significance does Marib Governorate have in Yemen? Li Shaoxian introduced that Marib Province is the last province controlled by the Hadi government in northern Yemen and is also the main oil producing area in Yemen. In the past, the Houthi armed forces have been focusing on attacking this place, leaving the Saudi-led coalition and the Hadi government supported by the coalition in an extremely embarrassing situation.
“Recently, with the support of the UAE, the southern armed forces invaded Marib Province, which reversed the war situation in Yemen.” Li Shaoxian pointed out that in this case, the Houthi armed forces attacked the UAE to force the UAE to completely withdraw from Yemen and no longer intervene. The war in Yemen.
He analyzed that for the United Arab Emirates, a commercial country, the Houthis chose to attack its ports and airports, and warned businesses and civilians before the attack to avoid going to important facilities in order to put pressure on the United Arab Emirates.
The sudden rise of gunfire in the Middle East, what impact will it have?
After the Houthi armed forces launched an attack on the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi-led coalition immediately launched a retaliatory strike on Sanaa, reigniting war in the Middle East. For a long time, Saudi Arabia and other countries have been pointing out that�Iran supports the Houthi armed forces and launches a “proxy war”, but not long ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran just showed signs of breaking the ice – three Iranian diplomats arrived in Saudi Arabia a few days ago. This is the first time Saudi Arabia has received guests from Iran since 2016 diplomat.
In January 2016, Saudi Arabia decided to sever diplomatic relations with Iran and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. The direct cause of the incident was that Saudi Arabia announced the execution of 47 prisoners for terrorism crimes, including the well-known Shia religious figure Nimr al-Nimr, which triggered Iranian demonstrators to storm the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran.
“Now, it is a critical juncture when Saudi Arabia and Iran are brewing to improve diplomatic relations. Iran sent three diplomats to the Saudi port city of Jeddah just to reopen Iran’s office in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which proves that the two countries intend to reconcile. .At the same time, the two countries are still actively preparing for the fifth round of bilateral negotiations, and the main topic is to restore diplomatic relations.” Li Shaoxian said.
In addition, the eighth round of relevant party negotiations on the Iran Nuclear Issue is currently underway in Vienna, the capital of Austria. In recent times, Iran, the European Union, Russia and other parties have released positive signals. Li Shaoxian said: “According to the statements of all parties, it seems that the text has entered the drafting stage, and the agreement is likely to be released in the near future.”
At such a sensitive moment, if the Houthi armed forces suddenly start a war, will it hinder the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the negotiations between the United States and Iran? In this regard, Li Shaoxian judged: “I don’t think so. The situation in Yemen is relatively independent.”
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