United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin (Credit: Department of Defense)

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  DC   –   PENTAGON –   U.S.  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin condemned this week’s terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates that killed three civilians. The terror attacks struck civilian sites including Abu Dhabi’s International airport on Monday.   The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack. Defense Secretary Austin spoke with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE via telephone on Wednesday. 

“The Department of Defense joins me in strongly condemning yesterday’s terrorist attack in Abu Dhabi that killed three innocent civilians and targeted civilian infrastructure.  We remain committed to the UAE’s security and ability to defend itself, and stand united with our Emirati partners in defending against all threats to their territory.”

-Defense Secretary Austin

Yemen is in the midst of a civil war  between Iran-backed Houthi rebels against a Saudi-led military coalition.  Sources said the drone attack targeted  a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi  and ignited  a fire at the international airport.

“We Have a Very Robust Defense Partnership with the UAE”   –  PENTAGON 

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  VIDEO  –    Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby at briefing with journalists at the Pentagon in Washington DC  Jan. 18, 2022.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, at a briefing with journalists,  said the United States has a “very robust” defense partnership with UAE.   

“We have a very robust defense partnership with the UAE, which includes foreign military sales of various different types of weapons and platforms. And so that will continue, of course, and obviously we’re in constant discussion and dialogue with our Emirati partners about ways we can strengthen that defense partnership.”

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times)  Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby briefs reporters at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.  Jan. 18, 2022.

 “The (Defense) Secretary felt it was important to make clear that just like elsewhere in the administration, we — we take these attacks on the Emiratis seriously.”

-Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby

DOD evaluating the attack to determine if threats to U.S. Soldiers, Citizens in the Area 

The Pentagon spokesperson said the DOD  thus far knows of no U.S. casualties as a result of the terror attack.   The Pentagon is evaluating  the attack to determine if it was a threat to U.S. soldiers and U.S. citizens in the area.  “We’re still, you know, we’re still taking a look at — at the attack itself. So it’s — it’s — it’s difficult to say positively that there was no threat to — to U.S. personnel or American citizens on the ground. It was clearly designed to go after this particular facility,” Kirby said.