Brigadier-General Yahya Sare'e, the spokesman of the Houthi Yemeni armed forces, said in an official statement that aired on Al-Masirah TV (Houthis-Yemen) on January 17, 2022 that the same-day drone strikes in Abu Dhabi that killed three and injured six had been a Houthi operation codenamed "Hurricane Yemen." He said that the attack was a successful retaliation for Saudi-Emirati-American escalation against the Houthis, and he said that the operation involved missiles and drones. He also warned that the Houthis will be expanding their bank of vital Emirati targets, and he said that the UAE should be considered an "unsafe mini-state" as long as it escalates its aggression against Yemen.
Yahya Sare'e: "This is a statement by the Yemeni Armed Forces. In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. The Lord says: 'Whoever attacked you, attack him the same way he attacked you.' Allah Almighty has spoken truly.
"In retaliation for the escalation of the Saudi-Emirati-American aggression, the Armed Forces have carried out, with the help of Allah, a high-quality, successful military operation - operation Hurricane Yemen - in which they targeted Dubai and the Abu Dhabi airports, the Musaffah oil refinery in Abu Dhabi, as well as a number of important and sensitive Emirati sites and facilities.
"This successful operation was carried out, using five ballistic and winged missiles, as well as a large number of drones. The operation successfully accomplished its goals. The Yemeni Armed Forces implemented today what they promised, and they reiterate their warning to the countries of aggression that they will be targeted with additional painful strikes.
"The Armed Forces warn foreign companies, the citizens, and the residents who live in the Emirati enemy state, that they will not hesitate to expand their bank of targets, so that it includes more important facilities and sites in the coming days. They should stay away from the vital facilities and sites, for their own safety.
"The UAE should be considered an unsafe mini-state, as long as it continues to escalate its aggression against Yemen."