Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthis claim to fire missile at Abu Dhabi nuclear reactor

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The Barakah nuclear power plant being built in Abu Dhabi’s western desert. Credit Arun Girija/Emirates News Agency, via Associated Press
The Barakah nuclear power plant being built in Abu Dhabi’s western desert. Credit Arun Girija/Emirates News Agency, via Associated Press

Yemen’s Houthi group has fired a cruise missile toward an under-construction nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the group’s television service said on its website Sunday, without providing any evidence.

“The missile force announces the launching of a winged cruise missile … toward the al-Barakah nuclear reactor in Abu Dhabi,” the website said. It gave no further details.

Still under construction, the four nuclear reactors at the plant are scheduled to start operation successively between 2018 and 2020.

In September, the UAE’s energy minister said the country’s first nuclear reactor will “definitely” be operational next year with the operating company getting a license in 2018.

However, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced in May that the plant had received the fuel assemblies for its unit 1 reactor. The fuel assemblies, the ENEC said in a statement, were being “securely stored” at the plant.

It was unclear if the assemblies were still being stored there.

Sunday’s claim comes amid heavy fighting in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, between the Iran-aligned Shiite rebels known as Houthis and some of their former allies led by Yemen’s ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Saudi-led coalition airstrikes have targeted the Houthis in that fighting.

The claim comes as the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the Saudi-led coalition, celebrates its National Day.

It is the second time this year the Houthis have said they have fired missiles toward the UAE. A few months ago they said they had “successfully” test-fired a missile toward the country.

JAPAN TIMES

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Comments

3 responses to “Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthis claim to fire missile at Abu Dhabi nuclear reactor”

  1. Iran is a lying sack of shiite pushing for a bigger war. I’d say give it to them. Otherwise they will not back off or stop.

  2. Danny Farah Avatar
    Danny Farah

    So it’s okay for Iran to interfere in Yemen but not KSA? double standard. why don’t these two maniac fight outside of yemen and get it over with. I also see Nasrallah with a Pistola behind those buildings. And he said he never sent a pistol there. what a bunch of crap. You think Iranian the cowards mullahs will operate without Hezbollah henchmen being there?

    1. Iran is like a pimple, it is irritating and until you squash it, there will be no relief.

      I would like to see Iran and the Sauds finally have this out, its been 1400 years in the making and well overdue. Unfortunately, due to Iran’s military weakness, they will prefer to fight from the shadows using proxy forces. Iran has had great success with proxy wars and mostly because it offers immunity for their country when they simply deny involvement and they don’t have to suffer a war-torn country, but they are also getting more aggressive and it is getting harder to distance themselves from their proxies.
      Israel has certainly clarified that Iran will also receive retaliatory action as responsibility for their Hezbominions if need be.
      Like the snake will be killed faster if you cut the head instead of chopping at the tail.

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