The US Central Command announced that its forces in the UAE were forced to take shelter in fortified hideouts last Monday, due to a possible threat from an attack launched by the Houthi group with ballistic missiles and drones.
A spokesman for the Central Command, William Urban, said in a statement that the state of alert at the Al Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi lasted about half an hour, starting at nine in the evening local time on Monday evening, as it included the possibility of using bunkers based on a potential threat.
The statement added, "At 9:27 pm, the pilots were notified that protective equipment would be available within 5 minutes, and this continued for 24 hours," stressing that everything was done with professionalism and discipline.
The Houthi group had previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Abu Dhabi by drones and ballistic missiles, which resulted in two fires in oil tanks of the Abu Dhabi Oil Company and in the construction area of Abu Dhabi Airport, as well as killing 3 civilians and wounding 6 others.
It is reported that in 2019, the Houthis broadcast a video clip that they said was related to their targeting of facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2018, with a drone. However, the UAE denied that the airport had been attacked, and said that the accident at the airport was caused by a supply vehicle.