ABU DHABI (Washington Insider Magazine) – US Marine General Frank McKenzie arrived in the UAE on Sunday for discussions on plans to improve the Gulf state’s defenses following a spate of missile assaults in Yemen by Houthi militants.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have launched an unprecedented spate of mostly failed missile strikes on UAE targets in recent weeks, triggering Emirati and US air defenses and forcing American forces to take cover for a short time.
The strikes have brought attention to UN-led efforts to mediate an end to Yemen’s war, which has placed the Houthis against a Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen since 2015.
McKenzie, who leads US forces in the Middle East as commander of Central Command, said the Houthi strikes prompted him to accelerate up his planned visit in order to emphasize the US commitment to the Gulf state’s protection.
UAE is going through a difficult period, in his opinion. They’re on the lookout for help. They were there to assist them in providing that help, shortly before arriving in Abu Dhabi, McKenzie informed reporters.
The Pentagon stated earlier this month that sophisticated F-22 fighter fighters and the USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer, will be deployed to work with the UAE navy ahead of a port call in Abu Dhabi.
The F-22s will give the UAE “one of the best look-down radars in the world,” McKenzie added, capable of detecting threats such as land assault drones and cruise missiles.
The USS Cole will patrol the waters around the UAE, looking out for illicit shipments, he said.
When questioned about the latest Houthi missile assaults, McKenzie speculated that they could have been triggered by a variety of factors, including fighting setbacks.
It was difficult to know all of the Houthi motivations, he said. He didn’t believe the Houthis in Yemen were habitual of losing ground.
The US accuses Iran of supplying the Houthis with advanced weapons.
McKenzie stated that the medium-range ballistic missiles fired from Yemen and into the United Arab Emirates were not conceived, constructed, or designed in Yemen. All of this took place somewhere else. As a result, he believes they can clearly establish the Iranian connection.
