US President Joe Biden issued a statement affirming the United States’ commitment to the safety and security of the people of the United Arab Emirates and the rest of the partners in the Middle East region, and the continuation of the diplomatic pursuit to end the war in Yemen.
His comments came on the anniversary of the terrorist strike committed last year by the Iran-backed Houthi militias on civilian sites in Abu Dhabi.
“One year ago, in a terrorist attack launched from Yemen, two ballistic missiles and a series of drones targeted civilian sites in the United Arab Emirates,” Biden said in a White House statement, adding: “While the UAE’s air defense systems — a hallmark of our decades-long security partnership — shot the missiles out of the sky, three innocent civilians died during this heinous attack.”
He continued: “Today, we remember the lives that were so tragically lost, and we reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the safety and security of the Emirati people.
“Working in close cooperation with my friend President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the United States will continue to support the UAE as it defends itself against threats — whether from Yemen or anywhere else.”
Biden emphasized the US diplomatic quest to end the war in Yemen peacefully, reiterating his country’s commitment to supporting the security of other partners in the Middle East region, providing military aid, and ensuring that attacks are not repeated.
“We remain steadfast in our pursuit of diplomacy to bring a peaceful end to the war in Yemen, and the United States will continue to support the security of the UAE and our other partners in the Middle East, including providing needed military assistance,” he said. “Therefore, as we commemorate the tragic events of one year ago, we stand resolute to ensure it cannot happen again.”
The White House statement indicated that as the UAE prepares to host the 28th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), “the United States and UAE will continue our work to advance impactful new initiatives, like the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).”
“Our strong partnership is critical to building a shared future of greater peace, stability, and integration throughout the region,” Biden said.
