Who Shot Down The Houthi Ballistic Missile That Was Targeted At Dubai?

One possibility is this Spyder air defense missile system produced in Israel. Photo: WikiCommons  

Asia Times: Secret air defense system downs Houthi ballistic missile  

Missile shot at Dubai on January 30 was more likely taken out by Israel’s Barak ER or Spyder than a US Patriot  

During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 30, Houthi rebel forces in Yemen provocatively launched a ballistic missile at Dubai. 

US armed forces fired Patriot missiles at the incoming missile but apparently did not hit it. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby later said it was Emirati surface-to-air missiles that actually engaged the targets. Initial reports said the Emiratis operated a South Korean system but the South Korean sale was only signed in January. 

The UAE does have the Russian Pantsir-s1s medium-range air defense system. The UAE also has Patriot and THAAD, but if these were used to knock out the Houthi missile that would have been stated as in the past.  

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WNU Editor: This speculation that it may have been an Israeli defense system shooting down this Houthi missile runs contrary to the public narrative that it was a US patriot system .... US troops sheltered, fired Patriot missiles during Yemen Houthi attack on UAE (AP). 

UAE Wants Israeli Defense Systems 

 UAE, reeling from Houthi attacks, seeking Israeli advanced radar: Sources -- Breaking Defense 

Israel said ready to sell Iron Dome to UAE, build regional defenses against Iran -- Times of Israel  

Report: Israel ready to sell Iron Dome to UAE -- i24 News  

Israel offers to help UAE bolster defenses after Houthi attacks -- Axios

UAE Shoots Down Missile Fired By Yemen's Houthis During Visit By Israel's President

 

Daily Mail: Abu Dhabi shoots down MISSILE fired at the emirate during visit by Israeli president a week after Yemeni rebels launched deadly drone attacks 

* Abu Dhabi's air defence system intercepted the ballistic missile on Sunday 

* The missile had been reportedly fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels 

* Emirati Defense Ministry said the attack did not cause any injuries or damage 

Abu Dhabi today shot down a ballistic missile reportedly fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as the Israeli President conducted an official visit to the United Arab Emirates. 

The capital city's air defence systems intercepted the missile which had been fired at the emirate on Sunday. 

The Emirati Defense Ministry told the Jerusalem Post that the attack did not cause any injuries or damage as the fragments of the missile fell in an unpopulated area.  

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 UAE Shoots Down Missile Fired By Yemen's Houthis During Visit By Israel's President  

UAE intercepts Yemen missile as Israeli president visits -- AP  

UAE intercepts ballistic missile during Israeli President's visit -- CNN  

UAE shoots down missile fired by Yemen's Houthis as Israeli president visits -- The Hill  

Israel's Herzog to continue UAE visit as planned despite Houthi missile -- SKY News  

UAE foils new Houthi ballistic missile attack -- Arab News  

Israel: President vows support for UAE amid Houthi attack -- DW

Israel president on 1st visit to UAE amid regional tension -- AP

Israeli PM Travels To U.A.E. In Historic First Visit

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sits with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2021. (Haim Zach/GPO) 

Times of Israel: Bennett welcomed in Abu Dhabi by Emirati FM on first official visit by Israeli PM 

‘We expect to strengthen the relationship between the countries,’ premier tells Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan; will meet Monday with crown prince 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday met with the United Arab Emirates’ top diplomat as he became the first Israeli premier to officially visit Abu Dhabi. Bennett was greeted at the airport by Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan and an honor guard after landing. 

“I appreciate your warm hospitality. This is a wonderful reception. I am very excited to be here, on the first official visit by an Israeli leader here,” Bennett told bin Zayed, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. 

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 Israeli PM Travels To U.A.E. In Historic First Visit 

Israeli PM arrives in UAE for first visit -- Arab News  

Israeli PM Travels To U.A.E. In Historic First Visit Against Backdrop Of Iran Talks -- RFE  

Israeli PM Bennett makes first UAE visit since formalising ties -- France 24  

Israel's PM arrives in UAE for first official meeting -- i24 News 

Bennett lands in Abu Dhabi ahead of historic UAE visit -- Jerusalem Post  

Naftali Bennett makes first visit to UAE for Israeli leader -- The Hill

Israel Holds Largest-Ever Air Force Drill During Visit By Emirati Air Force Chief

 

YNet News: Israel holds largest-ever Air Force drill with UAE visit 

The bi-annual 'Blue Flag' wargame enters its second week with more than 70 fighter jets — including Mirage 2000s, Rafales and F-16s — and some 1,500 personnel from all over the world, with Emirati air force chief set to inspect the exercise. 

Israel is holding its largest-ever air force exercise this week, joined by several Western countries and India, with the United Arab Emirates's air force chief set to inspect the drills. 

Ibrahim Nasser Muhammed al-Alawi's visit in the first by an Emirati military official to the Jewish state since both countries signed the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements last year.  

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More News On Israel Holding Its Largest-Ever Air Force Drill 

Israel holds largest-ever military drill with UAE participation -- Al Jazeera

Israel Holds Largest-Ever Military Drill With Participation Of An Arab Gulf Nation -- Zero Hedge  

Hosting Emirati general, Israel sees airpower cooperation -- Reuters  

In landmark visit, UAE air chief in Israel to observe ‘Blue Flag’ exercise -- Times of Israel  

UAE’s air force chief to witness Israel’s largest-ever exercise -- DAWN  

Israel, UAE send signal to Iran during Israeli air force drill -- Al-Monitor

UAE Inaugurates Embassy In Tel Aviv

 

France 24: UAE becomes first Gulf state to inaugurate embassy in Israel 

The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Gulf state to open an embassy in Israel, as its envoy hailed the trade and investment opportunities that closer ties would bring at a flag-raising ceremony also attended by Israel’s president. 

Brought together by shared unease about Iran, the UAE and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel last year under the “Abraham Accords” crafted by the administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Sudan and Morocco have since also moved to establish ties with Israel. 

The opening of the UAE embassy, which is situated in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, followed the inauguration of Israel’s embassy in the UAE last month.  

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WNU Editor: This is what I call change.

More News On The UAE Inaugurating Its Embassy In Tel Aviv  

UAE inaugurates embassy in Israel in downtown Tel Aviv -- AP  

UAE opens new embassy in Israel following normalisation agreement -- Middle East Eye  

UAE embassy opens in Tel Aviv, marking ‘new paradigm for peace’ - watch -- Jerusalem Post  

UAE inaugurates Israel embassy after normalisation deal -- Al Jazeera

Report: UAE Demands Hamas Ttop Its Missile Attacks Or Face A Halt In Investments

Rockets are launched towards Israel from Rafah, in the southern the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Palestinian Hamas terror group, on May 15, 2021. (Said KHATIB / AFP)  

Times of Israel: UAE said to warn Hamas planned Gaza infrastructure projects are in danger 

Gulf official reportedly tells terror group investments in Strip come with the ‘necessary condition of calm’; at least one of the projects said to be energy-related 

The United Arab Emirates is said to have warned Hamas that its planned investments in the Gaza Strip may not move forward if the terror group does not maintain calm in the territory. 

In the wake of the Abraham Accords, the UAE has in recent months been in contact with Hamas about various potential infrastructure projects to improve the lives of residents there, the Globes financial newspaper reported on Saturday.  

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Update #1: Report: UAE demands Hamas stop rockets attacks (Israel Hayom)  

Update #2: Report: UAE demands Hamas stop rockets attacks or face halt in investments (i24 News)  

WNU Editor: One anonymous source being reported in the Israeli media does not carry any weight in the current conflict. But it makes sense that no one, the UAE included, is going to invest monies into Gaza right now.

President Trump Announces 'Historic Peace Agreement' Between Israel, UAE

Daily Mail: Donald Trump unveils Middle East 'peace deal' with Israel gaining diplomatic relations with UAE in return for abandoning Jared Kushner's 'deal of the century' and not annexing swathes of West Bank

* President Donald Trump said the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties
* It's part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state
* Recognition grants a rare diplomatic win to Trump ahead of November election
* But it's a departure from the 'deal of a century' his administration unveiled in January - a plan put together by Senior Adviser Jared Kushner

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the Israeli annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

The announcement makes the UAE only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel, after Egypt and Jordan, and, in with it, Israel forgoes plans to annex occupied West Bank territory in order to focus on improving its relationship with the rest of the Arab world.

In a surprise announcement, Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal.

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More News On President Trump Announcing A 'Historic Peace Agreement' Between Israel And The UAE

UAE, Israel normalise ties: All the latest updates -- Al Jazeera
President Trump says UAE to open diplomatic ties with Israel -- AP
Israel, UAE agree to normalise relations, with help from Trump -- Reuters
Israel, UAE normalise relations in historic, Trump-brokered deal -- France 24
Israel and UAE strike historic deal to normalise relations -- BBC
Trump announces Israel and United Arab Emirates will reestablish diplomatic ties in potentially historic deal -- USA Today
Israel and United Arab Emirates Strike Major Diplomatic Agreement -- New York Times
Trump announces 'Historic Peace Agreement' between Israel, UAE -- FOX News
Israel and the UAE have established 'full normalization of relations,' Trump says -- CNN
Israel and UAE to form diplomatic ties, says Donald Trump -- The Guardian
Israel and UAE to start diplomatic ties after breakthrough deal -- DW
Israel and UAE announce normalisation of relations with US help -- Al Jazeera
Israel and UAE reach historic peace deal, Israel to suspend annexation -- Jerusalem Post

Israeli Minister Tours UAE Mosque In First Official Visit

Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev made an official visit to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi with UAE Minister.
This is the same Miri Regev who described the Muslims call to prayer, Adhan, as the sound of the "crying dogs of Muhammad". pic.twitter.com/hhCvCq9Tw0

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 29, 2018

Palestine Chronicle: Israeli Minister Tours UAE Mosque during First Official Visit (VIDEO)

Officials in the United Arab Emirates have taken the Israeli sports minister on a guided tour of the grand mosque of Abu Dhabi as she made the first official visit to the Gulf state.

Miri Regev posted a video of herself at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the Emirati capital on Monday in the latest sign of warming ties between Israel and Gulf states.

Regev said, while dressed in Islamic clothing:

“I am glad that I have had the privilege to be the first senior Israeli figure to sign the guestbook at the mosque. I chose to do so in Hebrew, to send a message of brotherhood.”

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Update #1: Israeli minister in unprecedented visit to UAE mosque (AFP)
Update #2: Watch: Minister tears up as Israeli anthem played in UAE (Arutz Sheva)
Update #3: Arabic press review: Second Israeli minister in three days to visit UAE (Middle East Eye)

WNU Editor: It looks like the Gulf states are changing their policy towards Israel .... Oman says time to accept Israel in region, offers help for peace (Reuters). More here .... Saudi Arabia and the UAE Consider the Cost of Israeli Ties (Stratfor).