Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Iranian forces have launched 186 ballistic missiles and 812 drones toward the UAE since the beginning of the current Middle East hostilities, with the country’s air defence systems intercepting the vast majority of the aerial threats, officials said.

In a government briefing, defence officials said the UAE’s integrated air defence network, including Patriot and other interceptor systems, has successfully shot down most of the missiles and drones. Of the 186 missiles detected, 172 were intercepted, 13 fell into the sea and one missile landed in UAE territory. Among the 812 drones detected, 755 were intercepted, with 57 falling within UAE borders.

The escalation is part of broader regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and allied countries. The Ministry described the attacks as a “blatant act of aggression” and a serious violation of UAE sovereignty and international law.

Officials reported limited casualties and damage from debris or falls: three foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh were killed, and 68 others suffered minor injuries. Some material damage to civilian infrastructure was also reported, although major urban centres and critical facilities remain largely secure.

The UAE Ministry of Defence reiterated that air defence systems remain fully operational and that authorities are maintaining the highest level of readiness to protect the territory, citizens and residents. The government has urged the public to rely only on official information sources as the situation continues to evolve

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________