Three Killed In Three Fuel Truck Blasts In UAE, Houthi Claims Responsibility

JAKARTA - Three people died in the explosion of three fuel trucks that caused a fire near Abu Dhabi airport, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Monday, with the Iran-aligned Houthi group calling it an attack deep inside the UAE.

The Houthi movement, which is battling a Saudi-led coalition, including the UAE, frequently launching cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, has claimed several such attacks in the UAE, most of which are denied by Emirati authorities.

Three people were killed and six injured when three tanker trucks exploded in the Musaffah industrial area near the storage facility of oil company ADNOC, state news agency WAM said. It said those killed were two Indians and a Pakistani.

Unverified footage on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from what appeared to be happening in the Musaffah area.

"Initial investigations found parts of a small aircraft that may be a drone at both locations which could have caused an explosion and fire," Abu Dhabi police said in a statement, adding there was no "significant damage".

Separately, a Houthi military spokesman said the group was carrying out a military operation "deep in the UAE" and would announce details in the coming hours.

The move could increase tensions between the UAE and Iran following Abu Dhabi's outreach to Tehran, to avoid a regional conflict that could hurt producer OPEC's economic ambitions.

The incident coincided with South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit to the UAE. Earlier, a Blue House (South Korean Presidential Office) official said a planned summit between Moon and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi was canceled due to "unexpected and urgent country matters".

Meanwhile, UAE authorities and ADNOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. A coalition spokesman did not immediately respond.

To note, the UAE has largely reduced its military presence in Yemen in 2019, but continues to hold power through the Yemeni forces it armed and trained. Pro-coalition forces backed by the UAE have recently joined the battle against the Houthis in Yemen's energy-producing Shabwa and Marib.

In July 2018, the UAE denied reports that the Houthis attacked Abu Dhabi airport with drones. A month later, Dubai International Airport said it was operating as usual, after Houthi-run media said the group launched a drone strike there.