WASHINGTON D.C.: Officials said the U.S. military launched interceptor missiles during an attack this week by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that targeted the UAE during a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the second time U.S. forces have opened fire in the UAE.

Observers noted that the acknowledgement by the White House and Pentagon represent a widening American involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict that “has to end,” according to President Joe Biden.

While the U.S. has ended its support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s exiled government, their involvement in defending the UAE comes as the Houthis declared Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi a target.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. military “responded to an inbound missile threat on the UAE. This involved the employment of Patriot interceptors to support efforts by the armed forces of the UAE. I would say we are working quite closely with them.”

“US Patriots were fired, but it was the Emirati surface-to-air missiles that actually engaged the targets,” said press secretary John Kirby at the Pentagon.

The UAE Armed Forces did not acknowledge that the U.S. military opened fire.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, has threatened criminal charges against anyone filming an attack or outgoing interceptor fire.

The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency reported on the interception, stating, “The attack did not result in any losses, as the remnants of the ballistic missile fell outside the populated areas.”

The attack came just before President Herzog’s visit to Dubai Expo 2020.

An attack on 17th January on Abu Dhabi by the Houthis killed three people and wounded six at an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. fuel depot near Al-Dhafra.