The United Arab Emirates has confirmed the successful interception of the majority of missiles and drones launched toward the country during a major escalation involving Iran, highlighting the effectiveness of its air defence capabilities.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, 161 out of 174 ballistic missiles detected since the beginning of the assault were intercepted and destroyed, while the remaining missiles fell into the sea. The ministry also reported the interception of six cruise missiles and 148 drones during the most recent attacks.
In total, 689 Iranian drones were tracked, with 645 intercepted, while 44 landed within the UAE. An additional eight cruise missiles were detected and neutralised, some of which caused limited collateral damage to civilian infrastructure.
The attacks claimed three lives and left 68 people with minor injuries, while several civilian locations sustained minor to moderate material damage. Authorities explained that sounds heard across the country were the result of interception operations carried out by air defence systems and fighter aircraft targeting hostile aerial threats.
The UAE condemned the attacks as a grave violation of international law and national sovereignty, stressing that it retains the full right to respond to the escalation. Officials reaffirmed that protecting the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remains the country’s top priority.
The ministry said it continues to operate at a heightened level of readiness and advised the public to follow only official announcements for accurate information.
