Mauritius condemns Abu Dhabi attacks; U.N. “deeply shocked” by reactive strikes

Mauritius has “unequivocally” condemned the terrorist attacks on Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ANDOC) oil storage facility located in the capital’s industrial zone, southwest of the airport on Monday 17 January 2022.

The attacks caused the death of three persons (two Indians and one Pakistani) and caused injury to several others.

According to latest Cabinet papers, the island has expressed its “solidarity with the brotherly people of the United Arab Emirates and presented its condolences on the loss of innocent lives.”

According to international media, the attacks have been attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels and included drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles – some of which Saudi Arabia claimed to intercept.

The situation reportedly escalated with Saudi Arabia launching deadly air strikes against rebel Houthi targets in Yemen.

Aid agencies at least 70 people, including three children were killed when a detention centre in the Houthi stronghold of Saada was targeted “in a blatant disregard for civilian lives.”

The Houthi rebels released gruesome video footage showing bodies in the rubble and mangled corpses from the prison attack, which levelled buildings at the jail in their northern heartland of Saada.

“The children were reportedly playing on a nearby football field when missiles struck,” Save the Children said.

The UN Human Rights Office said the reports of intensifying Saudi coalition air strikes on populated areas were “deeply shocking”.