Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-say-disclose-details-new-military-operation-against-uae-tweet-2022-01-30/
Recently, Houthi rebels in Yemen carried out a ballistic missile attack on the United Arab Emirates. This attack was successfully intercepted and is the third attack by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on the UAE in two weeks. Despite the new threat of expanded attacks by the Houthis on the UAE, there does not seem to be widespread fear in the public. In addition to this, investors in the emirati markets have not lost confidence in the face of the attacks either. The Israeli president also followed through with his planned visit and meeting with the emirati crown prince during the missile attack.
This is a significant event because Saudi Arabia and Iran are fighting a proxy war in Yemen as part of their battle for influence in the middle east. The UAE is part of the Saudi led coalition in support of the Yemeni government fighting the Iran backed Houthi rebels. Although Iran denies that they are supplying the Houthi rebels with weapons, the ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and now the UAE using Iranian made ballistic missile systems make it clear that Iran is almost certainly giving weapons to Houthi rebels. This attack also shows that the rebels are likely receiving training from the Iranian military because they have recently expanded the number of long range ballistic missile attacks from previous years.
This article relates to class because Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional powers fighting a proxy war in Yemen. The Iranian backed Houthi rebels are a non-state actor that is trying to take control of Yemen and is fighting the Saudi led coalition which includes the UAE. It also comes at a time when the Israeli president was visiting the UAE in order to discuss a normalization of diplomatic ties. Israel is also a regional power who is fighting Iran for influence in the middle east.