Written by: Political Editor
The standing of the countries of the world by the UAE was honorable in condemning the Houthi attacks on facilities in Abu Dhabi, as it reflected the status that the UAE had gained through its wise diplomacy, and its support for issues of truth and justice worldwide.
The brutal attack on Abu Dhabi set a dangerous precedent in endangering the lives of civilians, and an occasion to expose the terrorist nature of the Houthi organization before the eyes of the world.
The Houthi terrorist attack was condemned by international official figures, including heads of state, prime ministers, foreign ministers and defense ministers, either through personal contact with state officials, or through official messages and statements. US President Joe Biden said yesterday, Wednesday, that the issue of classifying the Houthis as a terrorist movement is under consideration, which the diplomatic circles considered a victory for Emirati diplomacy after the attack.
The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin, by phone, with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, strongly condemned the terrorist attack, conveyed his condolences for the dead, and affirmed his unwavering support for the security of the UAE against all threats.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to express his condolences and discuss coordinating the response.
In a special statement, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the attack a “terrorist attack” and expressed support for the United Arab Emirates.
British condemnation
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, on her Twitter page, condemned the attack, saying: “I condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks launched by the Houthis against the United Arab Emirates.”
Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, condemned the “indiscriminate attacks of the Houthis on civilians” and expressed support for the “right of the UAE to self-defense.”
The European Union considered that the Houthi attack increases the risk of an escalation of the conflict in Yemen and undermines efforts to end the war.
For its part, India strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as “a flagrant violation of international law and all civilized norms”.
The Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, spoke with His Highness, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, and expressed his strong solidarity with the UAE in the face of such “unacceptable acts”.
Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack launched by the Houthis on civilian areas in Abu Dhabi last Monday, which killed several people, including a Pakistani citizen.
Foreign Ministry spokesman, Assem Iftikhar, said that such attacks violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the UAE, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security. He said Pakistan calls for its immediate halt.
The United Nations condemns the aggression
The members of the United Nations condemned the terrorist attack on Abu Dhabi. The Emirati envoy, Lana Nusseibeh, said that more than 90 countries support the UAE against the Houthi attack.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned, in the strongest terms, the terrorist attack that targeted the Musaffah area and Abu Dhabi Airport, denouncing the Houthi militia’s persistence in its criminal operations by targeting civilian facilities in flagrant violation of international laws and norms.
The Secretary-General of the Organization, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, affirmed the OIC’s stand with the United Arab Emirates and its support for the measures it is taking to protect its lands and security.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI were among the first to contact His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, last Monday, to express their support for the UAE in the wake of the heinous attacks.
In a telephone conversation with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, King Abdullah II denounced the cowardly terrorist attack on civilian targets in the UAE.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also spoke with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last Monday. The two leaders stressed that such terrorist attacks targeting the Kingdom and the UAE strengthen the two countries’ resolve to jointly confront these aggressive acts.
They also stressed the need for the international community to stand up to these flagrant violations of international laws and norms, and to condemn these terrorist crimes that threaten regional and international peace and security.
A number of Arab foreign ministers called His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to express their solidarity with the UAE, including Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, Egyptian Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah.
International media: a dangerous precedent
International newspapers reviewed the attack and considered it a dangerous precedent in terrorist acts targeting civilians. The Wall Street Journal said that the attack represented a violation of international laws and an attack on the lives of innocent civilians.
The Financial Times published an analysis of the attack and the consequent change in policies at the regional level. She warned that the incident would constitute a shift in the attitudes of some countries in the region. The newspaper, “Duwesha Fellee”, said that the attack was a new escalation in the Yemen war, targeting the United Arab Emirates, despite its constant call for peace and stability in the Middle East and the world.
The torrent of condemnations reflected global interest in the United Arab Emirates, and increased the balance of its distinguished diplomacy in dealing with various issues at the regional and international levels.
The positions of the friendly and brotherly countries revealed the correctness of the Emirati political approach, which is keen to promote international peace, renounce violence in all its forms, and combat terrorism, whatever its source. The countries of the world have stressed two main points, namely condemning the terrorist acts of the Houthis, and supporting the UAE in choosing the form of response it deems appropriate.