Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The UAE Ministry of Defense announced in an urgent military statement today that the national air defense systems successfully intercepted a large-scale attack. The attack targeted various areas across the country. The Ministry confirmed the interception and destruction of 11 ballistic missiles and 123 drones. One missile landed in an unpopulated area, causing no casualties.
Confrontation and Response Statistics
The ministry revealed a record of defensive operations since the start of the “blatant Iranian aggression.” Specialized agencies detected the launch of 186 ballistic missiles toward the country’s territory. The results of the interception were as follows:
Ballistic missiles: 172 missiles were destroyed with an exceptional success rate, while 13 missiles fell into the sea, and one missile fell inside the country’s territory.
Drones: 812 drones were detected, 755 of which were intercepted, while 57 drones crashed in different areas.
Cruise missiles: 8 cruise missiles targeting civilian targets were destroyed.
Collateral damage and losses
The Ministry reported that these attacks unfortunately resulted in three deaths of residents of Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities. Additionally, 68 minor injuries were recorded among citizens and residents of various nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Filipino, and Lebanese, among others. All received immediate medical attention.
The ministry explained that the sounds heard in the country’s skies were caused by the activation of advanced air defense systems. This also occurred due to fighter jets intercepting hostile targets. The interception resulted in minor to moderate material damage to some civilian properties due to shrapnel.
Messages of firmness and warning
The Ministry of Defense condemned this attack in the strongest terms, describing it as “a blatant act of aggression and a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law.” The Ministry emphasized that the UAE:
It reserves the full right to respond to this escalation at the appropriate time and place.
All necessary measures will be taken to protect national assets and safeguard the security of the population.
It affirms its high combat readiness to deal firmly with any threat targeting its stability.
Guidelines for the public
The ministry concluded its statement by emphasizing that the safety of citizens and residents is its “top priority.” It also urged everyone to obtain news only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumors or sharing videos that could harm national security. At the same time, it commended the efficiency of the military personnel who work around the clock to protect the nation’s airspace.
