UAE denies Houthi targeted nuclear plant

The United Arab Emirates on Sunday denies a claim by Yemen’s Shiite rebels that a rebel missile had been fired toward the country’s under-construction nuclear plant.

The rebels, known as Houthis, earlier in the day claimed they had launched a missile toward the plant in Abu Dhabi in the first such strike toward the country.

“The National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority denies the claim that the Houthis fired a missile toward the country,” the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency says. “The UAE possesses an air defense system capable of dealing with any threat of any type or kind.”

The statement adds that the nuclear power plant was well-protected.

— AP