South Africa has condemned this week’s deadly drone attack on the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, warning on Wednesday that such attacks only fuel further tensions in the Gulf region.
Government says it is concerned about the escalating tensions in the Gulf region after a deadly drone attack by Yemen’s Houthi militia on Monday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates’ capital.
Reports say at least three people were killed when alleged Houthi militia from Yemen used drones to hit fuel trucks near the Abu Dhabi International Airport on Monday. Six others were injured during the strike.
The latest attacks are part of escalating tensions in the Gulf region that began with the January 3 hijacking of a UAE-owned cargo ship by alleged Houthi militia.
South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said the attacks could have a severe impact on efforts to bring peace to Yemen and the wider Middle East region.
“Of particular concern is the fact that the attacks are targeting industrial and civilian areas. Furthermore, these continued attacks have the potential to derail the United Nations’ mediation efforts in Yemen,” she said.
The minister said South Africa continued to maintain that an UN-mediated and Yemeni-led peace process is the only means to realising a lasting peace and regional stability.
JN/APA