The United States said, it would send a guided-missile destroyer and fighter jets to assist the United Arab Emirates after a series of missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.<br />''<br />''In a phone call on Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Abu bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Pentagon would send the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole to partner with the UAE Navy before making a port call in Abu Dhabi.<br />''The US embassy in UAE said in a statement that Austin also informed the Crown Prince of his decision to deploy fifth-generation fighter planes to assist the UAE against the current threat.<br />''<br />''The statement concluded, the deployment was intended to be a clear signal that the United States stands with the UAE as a long-standing strategic partner.<br />''<br />''The announcement comes after the UAE experienced the third missile attack in recent weeks on Monday, which the US deployed Patriot interceptors to thwart. The Pentagon later said UAE surface-to-air missiles struck down the incoming missile.<br />''On Monday, the UAE said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen by the Iran-aligned Houthis, during Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to the Gulf nation.<br />''<br />''This was the third missile attack in two weeks against the UAE, the Middle East's commercial and tourism hub.<br />''<br />