3 years after Houthi attack : UAE leaders mark January 17 as day of ‘resilience, solidarity’

Houthi attack after 3 years -For the UAE, January 17 is a day of “strength, resilience, and solidarity”, President Sheikh Mohamed said in a post on X on Friday — exactly three years since Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked the country.

On this day in 2022, the Houthis targeted the Musaffah ICAD 3 area and a construction area at Abu Dhabi International Airport, both of which are civilian infrastructure. The Houthi attack, which led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers, killed three civilians and injured six others.

“January 17 is a day when we remember the strength, resilience, and solidarity of the people of the UAE,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Friday. “These values are an eternal source of pride and honour that we collectively commit to passing on to future generations. May our nation forever remain a beacon of unity and goodwill for all of humanity.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Dubai Ruler and Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, also posted about what this day meant for the country.

“On January 17, the feelings of unity, loyalty, solidarity, and chivalry from the people of the UAE, both citizens and residents, will be remembered,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wrote on X.

“Our enduring values of sacrifice, giving, and dedication will remain a guiding light for us and for future generations. The UAE will remain a haven of security, safety, stability, and prosperity.”

A recent study by the Trends Research and Advisory Centre emphasised that the Houthi attacks on the UAE in 2022 reflected the country’s ability to handle terrorist threats efficiently while demonstrating Emirati gallantry in providing legitimate support and assistance to those who need them most.

Titled The Houthi Threat to Regional Security: Lessons Learned from the Events of January 17, the study was authored by Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of the Trends Centre.

It explored the multidimensional aspects of the Houthi threat to regional security, analysing their role in perpetuating Yemen’s internal conflict and assessing their impact on maritime security in the southern and western parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Particular focus was given to their direct threats to Gulf regional security, using pivotal events such as the January 17 and January 24, 2022, Houthi attack on civilian sites in the UAE to derive lessons from those experiences.

On a societal level, the study highlighted an extraordinary display of Emirati solidarity, with citizens and residents alike rallying around the wise leadership, demonstrating unity, and expressing unwavering support for the nation in the face of these challenges.

It also drew attention to several lessons from the crisis, emphasising that the events demonstrated the UAE leadership’s high level of global support and the effectiveness of its diplomacy, which secured widespread international backing.

The events also revealed the readiness and capability of the UAE Armed Forces, emergency authorities, and law enforcement agencies to protect national security and handle crises or emergencies.

They also stressed the necessity of intelligence-sharing with allies and mobilizing international communities against the Houthi threat while advocating for a political resolution to the Yemeni conflict.

The study predicted that terrorist threats would continue to evolve, becoming more complex and sophisticated. Thus, countries must keep refining their strategies to counter such threats, emphasizing greater international cooperation.

It called for raising youth awareness, rejecting extremist ideologies, and promoting values of tolerance and moderation. It noted that Emirati youth played a vital role in confronting these challenges, demonstrating significant awareness of the importance of national security and positively engaging with national initiatives.

On January 17, the UAE marks a day of “strength, resilience, and solidarity,” reflecting on the tragic Houthi attack that took place exactly three years ago. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, in a post on X, paid tribute to the nation’s enduring spirit, highlighting the values that define the UAE. “May our nation forever remain a beacon of unity and goodwill for all of humanity,” he wrote, as the country remembers the tragic events of 2022; reads a Khaleej Times report.

The attack, which targeted civilian infrastructure, including the Musaffah ICAD 3 area and a construction site at Abu Dhabi International Airport, led to the explosion of three petroleum tankers. Three civilians were killed, and six others were injured. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, but the UAE responded with strength and unity, showcasing its unwavering resolve in the face of adversity.

President Sheikh Mohamed emphasized the importance of these values, saying, “January 17 is a day when we remember the strength, resilience, and solidarity of the people of the UAE. These values are an eternal source of pride and honor that we collectively commit to passing on to future generations.”

In a similar vein, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, reflected on the significance of the day in a post on X. “On January 17, the feelings of unity, loyalty, solidarity, and chivalry from the people of the UAE, both citizens and residents, will be remembered,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote. “Our enduring values of sacrifice, giving, and dedication will remain a guiding light for us and for future generations.”

A study by the Trends Research and Advisory Centre underscores the UAE’s capacity to handle terrorism threats efficiently and provides an in-depth analysis of the events of January 17, 2022. The research highlights the UAE’s resilience and the significant role of its leadership, which garnered global support and strengthened diplomatic efforts. The study’s author, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of the Trends Centre, analyzed how the Houthi threat impacted regional security and how the UAE responded.

The study also emphasizes Emirati unity, noting that citizens and residents alike rallied behind the leadership, demonstrating solidarity during this challenging time. The UAE’s ability to manage the crisis, through its security forces and emergency response teams, demonstrated its readiness to protect national security and uphold stability.

The study also called attention to the importance of intelligence-sharing with international allies and taking a diplomatic approach to the conflict in Yemen. It stressed the evolving nature of terrorism threats, advocating for greater global cooperation and raising awareness, especially among the youth, to reject extremism and embrace values of tolerance and moderation.

The lessons learned from the Houthi attacks reinforce the UAE’s commitment to security, stability, and humanitarian support, and they continue to shape the nation’s strategic approach to regional and global security challenges.

With Thanks and Reference to:https://en.bd-pratidin.com/international/2025/01/17/28027 and https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/3-years-after-houthi-attack-uae-president-marks-january-17-as-day-of-resilience-solidarity