UAE intercepts Iranian missiles and drones as regional tensions escalate, leaving casualties and prompting renewed security warnings

The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates has announced that its air defence systems intercepted multiple missiles and drones launched from Iran, as escalating hostilities continue to heighten security concerns across the Gulf region.

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In a statement posted on the ministry’s official X account on Saturday, officials confirmed that UAE air defences engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran in the latest wave of attacks.

The ministry described the interceptions as part of ongoing defensive operations since the beginning of what it called “blatant Iranian aggression.”

According to the statement, UAE defence systems have repeatedly been activated to neutralise incoming aerial threats targeting the country.

Officials provided a broader breakdown of the attacks, stating that since the onset of the hostilities the country’s air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and about 1,600 drones launched from Iran.

Authorities also confirmed that the attacks have resulted in casualties among residents and foreign workers from several countries.

Six people have been killed, including nationals of the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The ministry reported that 141 people sustained minor to moderate injuries. Those injured include nationals from a wide range of countries, among them Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.

Officials did not disclose the exact locations where the fatalities and injuries occurred but indicated that the casualties were linked to multiple aerial incidents over time.

The ministry emphasised that the country’s armed forces remain on high alert to respond to any further attacks.

“The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats,” the statement said, adding that the military would firmly confront attempts to undermine national sovereignty and stability.

The development comes amid mounting regional tensions involving Iran and several Gulf states.

Qatar recently submitted another formal complaint to the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council over what it described as repeated Iranian military aggression against its territory.

In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the Security Council for March, Michael Waltz, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, described the incidents as serious violations of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, United States Senator Chris Murphy warned that the conflict has entered a dangerous phase and could have wider economic consequences.

Writing on his X account, the Connecticut lawmaker said the confrontation risks intensifying tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil supplies.

Murphy cautioned that modern warfare, particularly the widespread use of drones, makes it difficult to neutralise every threat and could prolong hostilities across the region, potentially expanding into other flashpoints such as Yemen and Syria.

The warning comes as United States President Donald Trump has vowed to maintain military pressure on Iran, insisting that Washington’s objective remains preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

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As the confrontation deepens, international observers continue to call for restraint amid fears that the conflict could escalate further and destabilise the wider Middle East.