The United Arab Emirates’ air defenses have intercepted a barrage of 2,063 projectiles – including missiles and drones – since the start of recent attacks, officials said Friday. The escalating situation underscores growing regional tensions and threats to stability.
The announcement came as UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the evolving regional developments and their serious implications for international peace and security. The two leaders exchanged views on the matter, and also addressed the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and other nations in the region.
These attacks, officials stated, deliberately target civilians, civilian infrastructure, and vital facilities, representing a violation of international law and the sovereignty of these countries. Trump condemned the attacks, reaffirming the United States’ solidarity with the UAE and its full support for its defense of its territory, stability, and security.
On Friday alone, Emirati air defenses engaged with seven ballistic missiles and 15 drones originating from Iran, bringing the total number of intercepted projectiles to 2,063 since the beginning of the attacks. This total includes 334 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,714 drones.
The attacks have resulted in the deaths of two members of the UAE armed forces and six civilians – from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Palestine – with an additional 158 people sustaining injuries ranging from minor to critical.
The UAE Ministry of Defense affirmed its full readiness to confront any threats and decisively counter any attempts to undermine the nation’s security, sovereignty, stability, and national interests.
